Shiv Sena has once again voiced its demand to build the Ram temple in Ayodhya and in the latest editorial of its mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ has claimed that the National Democratic Alliance government should take steps to build the temple since it has over 350 MPs in the Lok Sabha.

The development comes barely two days after Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, along with his family and all 18 Shiv Sena MPs, visited Ayodhya to offer prayers on Sunday ahead of the commencement of the 17th Lok Sabha on June 17.

“Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya went to Ayodhya one day before us. Maurya, in the presence of Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, had said that there are only two options to build the temple on Ram Janmabhoomi – discussions with Muslim stakeholders or via the Supreme Court. If these options fail, then the Ram Mandir should be constructed by bringing in an ordinance,” the editorial said, news agency ANI reported.

BJP’s biggest ally in the NDA government, Shiv Sena in a way pleaded that Lord Ram’s exile be ended by building the Ram temple. “All feasible options for discussions on the construction of the temple have failed... The mandate of 350 MPs is a for the temple. Lord Ram’s exile from Ayodhya should end,” the editorial read.

Earlier this month, Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut had said that if the promise to construct the temple is not fulfilled in the current 5-year term, “people of India will beat them with shoes”.

“In 2014, we had promised but couldn’t accomplish it. The elections this year were also contested in the name of Lord Ram. We had also visited Ayodhya with our party chief before the polls and committed to the construction of the temple... The construction will commence this time around, as if we don’t do it, the country will stop believing in us and beat us with shoes,” Raut had said.