New Delhi: A day after being banned from campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls by the election commission for violating the model code of conduct, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath was seen visiting a Hanuman temple.

The poll panel had barred the UP chief minister for 72 hours starting from 6 AM on April 16. His rival Mayawati has been barred for 48 hours.

Under Article 324 of the Constitution, the election commission authority can take such action which includes ban from holding any meetings, processions, rallies, roadshows and interviews across all platforms.

The ban comes after the BJP leader was seen delivering a communally charged "hate speech" at an election rally on April 9. During the rally, the UP chief minister had made an anti-Muslim comment, saying, "if Ali is with the BSP-SP-RLD alliance, then Bajrangbali is with the BJP.”

Although Adityanath did not defy the ban by visiting the Hanuman temple, can it be seen as a veiled poll campaign?

His constant pujas and yagnas did come under the focus of the media and that does violate the spirit of the election. Interestingly, it was also noted that Adityanath chose to visit a Hanuman temple, even though the election commission's ban was in connection with a remark he made on "Bajrangbali". 

Hence, this move could clearly indicate that Yogi may be using his ‘devotion’ as a tactic to attract the attention of the voters. 

Yogi’s yagnas did attract the Twitterati. Check out how: