Maurya took U-turn on Ram Temple controversy, seeks to expose corrupt Akhilesh

Uttar Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Keshav Prasad Maurya on Wednesday took a u-turn on his earlier statement on the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya saying his statement has been misinterpreted and misconstrued.

Maurya had on Tuesday said that a "grand" temple will be built in Ayodhya if BJP secures a majority in the seven-phase assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.

He had further said, "Ram Mandir is a subject of faith. It is not going to be built in two months. The temple will be constructed after the elections. BJP will come to power with a full majority."

On Wednesday, however he said, "I haven't given any such statement, all what I said got misconstrued. I have only said that the true face of Akhilesh Yadav was revealed in front of everyone when he asked the people to cast vote for Gayatri Prasad in Sultanpur," Maurya told ANI.

Maurya said he expected the BJP to win more than 300 seats in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly election.

He also described the Samajwadi Party as a "sinking and corrupt" whose leadership needed to be put behind bars.