Nervous BJP up to old tricks in UP as assembly elections approach

Caste fractures in state present resistance to the BJP agenda of uniting Hindu voters on emotive religious issues

The UP election, political pundits tell us, will impact the re-election chances of Prime Minister Modi in 2024. Is this why the prime minister finds himself in the state almost every week?

Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will inaugurate the Rs. 700 crore Kashi-Vishwanath Temple Corridor Project by carrying a container of “Ganga-jal” from Lalita Ghat on the holy river to the sanctum-sanctorum of the temple (to be televised). He will then offer prayer at the Kashi-Vishwanath temple, with priests from 12 jyotirlingas (Shiva shrines) and 51 siddh peethas (powerful temples) in attendance. Later, “prasadam” (consecrated food) will be sent