Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 15 (ANI): Maharashtra Minister Aditya Thackeray on Wednesday arrived in Lucknow to visit Ayodhya to offer his prayers at the Ram Temple site.

"When we came for the 1st time in 2018, we said 'pehle mandir, phir sarkaar'... I'll offer prayers and receive blessings... the land is not political, it's the land of 'Ram Rajya'," Thackeray told media persons.

Also Read | .@IndiaCoastGuard Team & Mozambique Navy Performed Yoga in Maputo as Part of the … – Latest Tweet by Prasar Bharati News Services.

Meanwhile, earlier Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has said that Aaditya Thackeray's Ayodhya visit is "not a political programme".

Aditya Thackeray's visit comes as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (NNS) had criticised Shiv Sena for "abandoning Hindutva".

Also Read | Music Theory is The Most Important Skill For a Successful Career As a Music Producer: Shamit Music.

Shiv Sena formed the government in Maharashtra in alliance with Congress and Nationalist Congress Party after ending a decades-old alliance with the BJP.

Raj Thackeray was also scheduled to visit Ayodhya this month but the visit was cancelled for some reasons. (ANI)

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)