The BJP manifesto for the Lok Sabha election released Friday reached out to its core Hindutva constituency while detailing a series of good governance measures intended to be the template for the NDA’s National Agenda for Governance that will be endorsed by its allies later this month.

The articulation of Hindutva issues in the document released on Ramnavami contrasts with the conciliatory agenda of the Vision Document of 2004 — the BJP, then leading the ruling NDA at the Centre, didn’t come out with a separate manifesto.

The Vision Document, also released on Ramnavami five years ago, had said “it was committed to the construction of the Ram Mandir”, but that “it favoured an amicable resolution of the issue through dialogue for starting a new chapter in Hindu-Muslim relations”.

In its 2009 manifesto, the BJP says: “There is an overwhelming desire of the people in India and abroad to have a grand temple at the birth place of Sri Ram in Ayodhya. The BJP will explore all possibilities, including negotiations and judicial proceedings, to facilitate the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya”.

The BJP decided not to include the third option — that of legislation for the temple — at the last minute, it is learnt.

In 2004, the BJP made no direct mention of Article 370 that accords Jammu and Kashmir special status — it merely referred to “certain transient and temporary provisions”.

In its manifesto today, the BJP makes a direct reference to the need to abrogate Article 370. The document also mentions the Ram Setu, promotion of “cow and its progeny,” and autonomous administration of mutts and mandirs in the section ‘Preserving Our Cultural Heritage’.

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