Banned Yogi seeks 'divine' help

Facing a 72-hour ban on campaigning in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls for raking up 'Ali vs Bajarang Bali' in his speech, BJP's star campaigner and Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday visited a famous Hanuman Temple in the state capital and offered 'puja' there.

Yogi Adityanath, who spent around 15 minutes at the temple, also recited 'Hanuman Chalisa' (religious hymns praising the monkey god), according to the sources.

The chief minister has been barred from taking part in the campaigning for 72-hours from Tuesday. He had to cancel around half a dozen election meetings in the state and elsewhere, sources said.

Adityanath's visit to the Hanuman Temple, according to the BJP leaders here, was an ''affirmation'' of his ''faith'' in 'Bajarang Bali' (Hanuman).

''Adityanath is a disciple of Bajarang Bali,'' said a state BJP leader here.

In his reply to the notice by the Election Commission (EC) also, Adityanath reiterated his faith in 'Bajarang Bali' and rejected the charge that he had violated the model code of conduct.

''I am a true disciple of Bajarang Bali....no one can shake my faith in him,'' he said in his reply.

Owing to the EC ban, Adityanath could not accompany union minister Rajnath Singh, when the latter filed his nomination papers from Lucknow LS seat on Tuesday.

The EC has also imposed a 48-hour ban on the BSP supremo Mayawati, union minister and BJP candidate from Sultanpur LS seat Maneka Gandhi and firebrand Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan for violating the model code of conduct.