Ram temple permanent focus but UP polls on development issue: BJP

Union Minister Kalraj Mishra on Saturday said BJP would contest the 2017 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh on issues of development and local problems.

The Union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) was here for the 'Geeta Fair' today and was asked if the Ram Temple issue in Ayodhya would remain at the focus of his party during the UP elections.

"The law and order situation in the state is deteriorating under Samajwadi Party rule. People are upset with the administration. The state government is coming out only with slogans and promises instead of development on the ground," Mishra told reporters.

"BJP will fight the UP elections on the issue of development and the problems faced by the electorate," Mishra said.

Referring to the Ram Temple issue, he said, "It is our party's policy that Ram Temple in Ayodhya be constructed either on the court's direction or by general consensus or on the basis of law passed by two third majority. Ram Temple in Ayodhya must be constructed on the basis of any of these three conditions."

Asked about BJP's chief ministerial face for UP, Mishra, an MP from Deoria, said, "it is up to the party leadership to decide that." As an organisation, BJP is 80 per cent prepared at booth-levels as of now, he said, adding the party has reviewed its loss in Bihar assembly election and was preparing for UP keeping that in mind.

Asked about coalition with any party in UP, the Union minister said it was for the party leadership to decide that.