Ayodhya, June 15: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will visit Ayodhya on Sunday along with his 18 party MPs. His wife Rashmi and son Aditya are also expected to join him.

Talking to reporters on Saturday, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said: "Uddhav Thackeray and our MPs are coming to Ayodhya to offer prayers at the makeshift Ram temple. For us, Ayodhya and Ram temple are not subjects of politics, but a matter of faith and religion. We have never sought votes in the name of the temple and will never do so." What is Shiv Sena Doing About Ram Temple Issue, Asks VHP Chief Vishnu Sadashiv Kokje.

Raut said Thackeray had promised to visit Ayodhya with his MPs after elections and he was simply fulfilling the promise. MPs will return to Mumbai after offering prayers at the temple. Muslim Clergy Slams Mohan Bhagwat's Comment on Ram Temple Construction in Ayodhya, Says 'Such Statements Will Only Create Panic'.

The Yogi Adityanath government has accorded the state guest status to Thackeray and Sena MPs. Last November, the Shiv Sena chief and his family had visited Ayodhya, where he coined the slogan, "Pehle mandir, phir sarkar" (First temple, then government).

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 15, 2019 04:49 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).