Sangh Parivar cadres' massive public outreach relating to the January 22 Ram temple consecration has rattled the INDIA bloc, particularly the heartland-based parties, but they hope the excitement will be temporary and not completely override people's livelihood concerns.

Key Opposition strategists believe that a counter-narrative based on the people’s "real concerns" will have a deeper and more durable impact, with joblessness and inflation on Narendra Modi's watch having made survival far more difficult for the poor.

Congress leaders are convinced that issues of social, economic and political justice cannot be eclipsed by an artificial storm of religiosity.

While the Opposition parties have decided not to adopt an antagonistic position on the consecration ceremony, they intend to defeat the diversionary ploy by keeping their focus on everyday issues.

They are, however, subtly pointing to the questions raised by Hindu saints, including Shankaracharyas, over the timing of the consecration — which comes ahead of the temple’s completion — and the capture of the religious rituals by the political leadership.

"Hindus know that January 22 has no significance in the history of Lord Ram and this date has been decided only with the political motive of exploiting people’s sentiments about the temple in Ayodhya," an Opposition leader told The Telegraph.

"The temple is not going to be ready for at least two years. And if the consecration had to happen now, why is it being done by the Prime Minister, and with the Shankaracharyas not invited? Is this a political function where the Prime Minister must occupy centre-stage? Why has the President of India not been invited?"

Asked how the Opposition alliance would counter this frenzy, a senior leader said: "We are helpless in front of such brazen exploitation of religious sentiments by the Prime Minister, but we don't presume that this will drastically alter the voting patterns.

"Those who will vote for the BJP only because the Ram temple has been constructed in Ayodhya would have voted for the party even if there was no trace of the temple. All the BJP can do with this political tamasha is protect its core vote and divert attention from its failures."

Much as the Bharat Jodo Yatra had allowed Rahul Gandhi to make a powerful intervention in the national discourse, the Congress hopes the Nyay Yatra would emerge as an effective communication system, setting the tone for an oppositional narrative ahead of the parliamentary elections.

The Congress on Sunday invited civil society organisations, NGOs and activists — who often help multiply the pro-democracy voices — to join the Nyay Yatra.

Party communications chief Jairam Ramesh issued a statement saying: "The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is the Congress party’s campaign led by Rahul Gandhi for economic, social and political justice for every Indian. Across the country, there are crores of citizens, lakhs of organisations and thousands of movements who fight for justice at the grassroots.

"Every day, they work for better opportunities for the youth, to empower women, for workers and farmers, for the equal rights of Dalits, Adivasis and backward communities, and many more marginalised sections and groups.

"The Congress party invites each individual, every civil society organisation and all movements that stand for justice and protecting Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution to join the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. Together, let us strengthen our commitment to deliver the Constitution’s promise of justice to each Indian."

Almost all INDIA partners have accused the BJP of misusing the Ram temple for political mobilisation.

Sanjay Raut, spokesperson for Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, has gone to the extent of describing the consecration ceremony as a "conspiracy".

"The ceremony has been planned as a conspiracy because the Lok Sabha elections are scheduled soon after. The scheme is to keep the entire focus on the Prime Minister. The BJP is standing on the two legs of Ram's prop and EVM help," Raut wrote in party mouthpiece Saamana.

"There is noise about development. But no section of society is happy…. Sam Pitroda has warned the BJP will indeed win 400 seats if elections are held with EVMs. The BJP won’t win even municipal elections without EVMs.

"The BJP is laying the foundation for autocracy with the help of EVMs. This is the work of a leader who has been described as 'Vishnu's avatar'."