With just five days to go, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is most unlikely to be invited to the bhoomi pujan of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, slated to be held on August 5, because barring the CM of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, the temple trust doesn't want any other CM in attendance, to prevent a large gathering amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, since prominent leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Vishwa Hindu Parishad and several Hindu organisations, heads of various sects and peeth (religious seats), who were instrumental in the Ram mandir agitation, are being invited, the Shiv Sena, which claimed credit for demolishing the disputed structure in Ayodhya and subsequently faced criminal charges, is expected to feel insulted and have a reason to attack the BJP. A Sena MLA had requested the temple trust to honour public sentiment by inviting the Maharashtra CM for the ceremony.