With UP elections crossing the half-way mark, chief minister Yogi Adityanath claims 80% of the seats are already in BJP’s kitty and the same trend will continue in the remaining three phases. There is a strong pro-incumbency sentiment, he tells Rajiv Srivastava & Pravin Kumar. Excerpts from the interview:
Half of the Uttar Pradesh elections are over. What is your assessment of BJP’s prospects till now?
I have been saying it from the first day that people of UP have developed a trend of 80 versus 20. A total 80% of the seats will go to BJP while the remaining 20% will go to other parties.
BJP faced a challenging situation in west UP like the farmers’ agitation. Media reports say it has been a factor going against the party.
Media does its own analysis and research. Voices of those in the field remain unheard at national and international levels and those who dominate the national and international media are unaware of the ground reality. There has been no impact of farmers’ agitation in west UP. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, when the SP-BSP alliance was formed against BJP, several political analysts claimed that BJP at best would get 25 seats. But when results were declared, BJP won exactly 80% of the seats while the remaining 20% of the seats got divided among other parties. PM Narendra Modi has changed the political agenda of the country and the focal point is no longer caste, creed or religion, but the welfare of the poor, farmers, youth and women. A new trend seen in west UP was that women in large numbers came out of the family, caste and religious barriers to vote for BJP.
But anti-incumbency is often a natural political factor. Besides, Covid-19 affected the governance.
This is the first time in the past 25-30 years that there is no anti-incumbency. And this has happened despite the fact that two of the five years of the government were hit by the pandemic. There is certainly pro-incumbency.
Akhilesh Yadav says BJP workers are taking out party flags from their vehicles and homes knowing that the party is losing the elections?
I have read on social media that Akhilesh Yadav has booked a London ticket for March 11. And his supporters are worried as they have been attacking BJP leaders at his behest and now he is planning to run away from the state.
Opposition often questions your way of talking. It says your tone and tenor are not that of a CM?
My way of talking is the same. Every action has a reaction.
During the ongoing hijab row, it was said that when a chief minister can wear saffron robes then why can’t students wear hijab?
There is no dress code in Vidhan Sabha. The girls can wear hijab in their homes, market or while holidaying. But schools do have a dress code. One needs to adhere to that dress code. We should understand that India’s Constitution, if given rights, has also outlined our duties. Nations should be run by the Constitution not by an individual diktat or Sharia Law.
There were two verdicts: one by Ahmedabad court on blast accused and other by the Supreme Court directing to withdraw notices and fine from NRC protesters in Uttar Pradesh? Will it have an impact on the elections?
Ahmedabad court verdict is of great importance. It has made clear that who all are creating obstacles in the country’s fight against terrorism. One name that has come up openly is that of Samajwadi Party. This gives a huge indication about the intent of SP when it comes to the country’s security and safety of the people.
As far as the Supreme Court verdict related to anti-CAA protests is concerned, the verdict in fact is the approval of the UP government’s action against such protesters. When properties were damaged during protests, we in UP had taken out an administrative order that anyone who damages government property would be liable to pay back the compensation. It was an administrative order. We then formed an Act and set up three tribunals.
Will the compensation realised from the protesters be returned?
It would be returned but would be realised through the tribunals. Now it will be up to the tribunal. They can even increase the compensation.
Now that elections are moving towards east UP, there are a lot of caste complexities.
These things were also said when elections were being held in west UP.
Om Prakash Rajbhar-led SBSP was with BJP in the last elections but not this time? Will it hurt?
Rajbhar was not with the BJP in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Then too Bharatiya Janata Party won 80% of the seats. You should also note that Maharaj Suheldev’s followers will not join hands with followers of (medieval invaders) Ghori and Ghaznavi.
It seems you polarise issues?
Where does polarisation come from? Maharaj Suheldev has been given honour by BJP. A medical college and a memorial in his name has been constructed by BJP’s double engine government. A stamp on his name was released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A train in his name was launched by the Central Government. Those who want to cash in on his name be it SP, BSP or Congress should say what they have done to keep the honour of Maharaja Suheldev. You can’t cash in on just by keeping the name of the party on his name. Will Mukhtar Ansari carry forward the legacy of Maharaj Suheldev? Will you make Maharaja Suheldev’s name as the means to ensure mafia Mukhtar Ansari enters government. Will Suheldev’s followers accept this? Never.