The mandir brigade,17 years later

Then Many in the BJP believe that L K Advani,with his Somnath to Ayodhya rathyatra,changed the grammar of politics....

L K Advani

Then Many in the BJP believe that L K Advani,with his Somnath to Ayodhya rathyatra,changed the grammar of politics in early 90s. Apart from the 1990 rath yatra,that helped the BJP catapult to the political centrestage,Advani coined two terms during the agitation, pseudo secularism,and minoritism. He came to be variously known as architect of modern BJP,Hindu political entrepreneur,a nationalist or a communalist.

now After having served as deputy Prime Minister and led the NDA in the 2009 elections,Advani is today known as a voice of reconciliation in the parivar. In the partys recent national executive,he stressed that Hindutva was also about evolution and change. Apart from the 1989 rathyatra,he also counts his Pakistan visit of 2005 (that saw a huge uproar over Jinnah) as another milestone in his political evolution.

Kalyan Singh

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then If L K Advani was the architect of the Ayodhya agitation,Kalyan Singh was its OBC face. The UP chief minister when the structure was demolished,Kalyan also came to be known as a shrewd practitioner of Mandir-Mandal politics,who delivered OBC votes to the party in the state in 90s. Little wonder then that the Kalyan was ranked next only to Atal-Advani in the party hierarchy after the agitation.

now After quitting the BJP,Kalyan Singh today loves to see himself as someone capable of transferring Lodh votes to,say,Samajwadi Party,the party he is currently inclined towards. He could end up as the biggest loser if the Liberhan panel indicts him (and the Samajwadi Party,by asociation) for the Ayodhya demolition.

Murli Manohar Joshi

then Another leading light of the Ayodhya agitation,Joshi is still remembered for a freeze-frame (along with Uma Bharati) after the disputed structure had been razed by hysterical kar sevaks. If he was a leading BJP leader,Joshi also worked in tandem with VHP and other allied organsiations. Always known for his shall-not-budge-an-inch stance on Ayodhya.

now Two decades down the line,Joshi remains an important party functionary,and his steadfast on his stance on Ayodhya. His links with VHP and allied organisations remain as strong as ever and Joshi has not given up on hopes of serving another term as party president,in post-Advani BJP.

Vinay Katiyar

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then As the founder-president of Bajrang Dal,Vinay Katiyar was among the first to take out a yatra for a Ram temple in Uttar Pradesh in late 80s. Katiyar led the pack of rabble-rousers in the parivar for whom Ayodhya was an article of faith. Also supported acts like Bajrang Dal volunteers donating blood for Advanis rath yatra.

now Now a BJP general secretary,Ayodhya remains an article of faith for Katiyar,who spends some time every month in the darbar of Ram Lalla. For the first time after this election,however,Katiyar,was heard saying that governance measures like farms loan waivers and NREGA acted as vote-catchers for ruling Congress. He however firmly remains on the right side of the Hindutva vs Moderates debate in the party.

Uma Bharti

then The fiery sanyasin-preacher-leader symbolized the blend of Mandir,Mandal and woman power during the Ayodhya agitation. A powerful orator,she along with Sadhvi Rithambara,was known for making hysterical speeches,and during the demolition act,her ek dhakka aur do came to be known as a war cry of sorts for the rabble rousers.

now The once powerful BJP leader was manoeuvered into quitting the party following which she floated the Bharatiya Jan Shakti,which proved to be a non-starter. Uma has been knocking at the parivars door,though it has not generated any favourable response. Remind her of her role in the demolition,and she retorts with pride and delight. That after all,may be her passport to relevance in the days to come.