The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the BJP on Thursday welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to hear the Ayodhya case from October 29, appearing hopeful of a “just verdict” in the politically sensitive case before next year’s general election.

“Today, the Supreme Court has decided to hold hearing on the Shri Rama Janmabhumi case from 29th October by a three-member bench. We welcome this decision and are confident that a just verdict will be reached over the case at the earliest,” the RSS said in a statement.

Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat had recently favoured the construction of a grand Ram temple at Ayodhya at the earliest, saying it would end discord among Hindus and Muslims.

The BJP did not react officially. Sources said leaders like Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and Uma Bharti were articulating the party’s stand and there was no need to come up with a separate statement. “Our stand is well known. The BJP too wants a Ram temple in Ayodhya and hopes a positive decision will come from the court,” a BJP leader said.

Off the record, BJP leaders said even if the decks were not cleared for building a temple before the polls, the issue should dominate the election.

Bharti, a fiery leader of the Ayodhya movement that led to the 1992 demolition of the Babri mosque, hoped a decision would lead to the construction of a Ram temple. “This isn’t a matter of religious dispute as Ayodhya is an important religious place for Hindus because it is the birthplace of Lord Ram. It isn’t a religious place for Muslims. For them it is Mecca,” the 59-year-old Union minister said.

Adityanath, who too had taken an active part in the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation, said: “It is for the country’s benefit that the dispute gets resolved at the earliest. The majority of the nation wants a solution…. We appeal that the matter should be resolved as soon as possible.”

BJP MP Subramanian Swamy, who has been pushing for early construction of a Ram temple, appeared jubilant. “I have contested that I have a fundamental right under Article 25 to offer worship at the place where Lord Ram was born,” Swamy told reporters.

“The Supreme Court has now cleared the way for me to press for the fundamental right. That will prevail because now, with this Ismail Faruqui judgment being upheld, the Sunni Waqf Board has no fundamental right and only ordinary right to appeal for the property, so my superior right will prevail and I hope before Diwali, the Ram Mandir construction starts.”