BJP's state executive meet was held in Vrinadavan over the weekend
In Uttar Pradesh, the Ram temple seems to be giving way to 'Love jihad' as the BJP's core political agenda.
The party has not used the term in a political resolution passed today in Vrindavan, but the way it is worded is unambiguous in its import.
"Love jihad" is a term recently coined by the Sangh Parivaar, as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS and its affiliates, including the BJP, are together known. It refers to girls from the majority community being converted by men of a minority community to their religion using love and marriage as bait in an organised manner.
Key points in today's political resolution indicate that polarisation of voters may be at the core of the party's future political strategy in India's most populous state.
The resolution alleges that the accused in many "crimes against women of one community" belong to "one particular community" and that communal tension is rising due to "such crimes against women."
It also accuses the ruling Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government in the state of "shielding accused belonging to one community."
The BJP has drawn up a list of incidents that it claims support its allegation. "Of all the cases of communal clashes in Uttar Pradesh, 71 incidents had crime against women as the cause," state BJP president Laxmikant Bajpayee said.
Another leader Vinay Katiyar alleged, "Love jihad is on. If one goes to the depth of the incidents of communal clashes which are happening we find 'they' try to befriend girls from one community. If the attempts fail 'they' don't just rape, but even kill the girl."
The Muzaffarnagar riots ahead of the Lok Sabha polls resulted in polarisation that is seen as having helped the BJP politically. The party and its allies won 70 of 80 seats in the state - an increase of 60 seats compared to 2009.
Uttar Pradesh votes for a new Assembly in 2017. To keep voters engaged, the party has a parallel plan. "From August 25, we will roll out a plan to integrate more youth, women and members of backward castes into the party's structure," said party spokesperson Vijay Pathak.