Mamata Banerjee And TMC Likely To Skip Ram Temple Inauguration Event: Report (image: facebook.com/MamataBanerjeeOfficial)

As per the reports, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will not be attending the inauguration ceremony of Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22. Besides, her party, the Trinamool Congress is not likely to send any representatives to the ceremony, sources told Times of India.

Though party has not made public their decision, the party sources close to the Chief Minister states that party is cautious of not to fall into ruling BJP”s political narrative. TMC thinks that BJP is looking to yield Ram Mandir inauguration as a launching point for its 2024 General Elections campaign and Mamata Banerjee”s party is reluctant to be a part of it.

Earlier, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury expressed that despite receiving the invitation, he will not be attending the ceremony. In their statement, citing reasons for not attending the ceremony, party stated that religion is a personal choice and “not to be converted into an instrument for political gain.” Pointing at BJP, CPI(M) also added that BJP and RSS have converted “a religious ceremony into a State sponsored event.”

For the Ram Temple “Pran Pratistha” or the idol consecration ceremony, Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust has invited 4,000 saints and 2500 dignitaries for the ceremony. The invitations have been sent to all chief ministers and leaders of the opposition parties as well.

The chief guest at the event will be Prime Minister Narendra Modi and he will perform the rituals in sanctum sanctorum of the Ram Temple. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat are likely to share stage with him.