LUCKNOW: Days after the SP-BSP combine announced that Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav would launch their Lok Sabha election campaigns from Deoband , chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said he would kick off his own from the historic Shakumbari Devi temple in Saharanpur, just 40km away.

Speaking at an event here, he said the alliance's choice of Deoband was an indication of its orientation and priorities. The CM is expected to visit the temple on March 25 after the last date for withdrawal of nominations. The visit of the BJP's saffron mascot to the Shakumbari Devi temple comes in sharp contrast to SP-BSP-RLD troika , who have zeroed in on Deoband - also in Saharanpur - housing Asia's biggest Islamic seminary to launch their election campaign on April 7.

The Shakumbari Devi temple is associated with the cult of vegetarianism among Hindus. The legend has it that goddess Shakumbari killed the mighty demon king Mahishasura at this place. It's also believed the goddess performed meditation for 100 years and had a vegetarian meal once at the end of every month. Because of this, the temple was named after Shakumbhri Devi .

In a reference to the proposed steamer ride by AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Yogi said the Congress leaders should thank PM Narendra Modi, who expedited the waterway project in Varanasi and Prayagraj. "I will be happy if Congress president Rahul Gandhi, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and BSP supremo Mayawati also take a boat ride on the Ganga,'' he said.

Yogi also categorically said Priyanka's foray into active politics would not make much difference to the BJP's poll prospects. On the construction of Ram temple, Yogi said it has never been a poll issue for the BJP. Nevertheless, people's faith should be given due respect, he said.

He said the Hindus would not withdraw their claim on the site in Ayodhya, where Lord Ram was born. "Muslims should not stake their claim to Babri masjid. This has been established by the findings of the Archaeological Survey of India ,'' he said.

