BJP sweeps UP elections
new delhi — The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday swept to an unprecedented two-thirds majority in Uttar Pradesh. A euphoric BJP called it a “historic” verdict that would make a major impact on Indian politics even as the Congress admitted it was stunned by the scale of the verdict in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
From being the third largest group in the 403-member Uttar Pradesh assembly, the BJP, powered by an aggressive campaign spearheaded by Modi, catapulted to winning a whopping 325 seats — a never-before showing by any party in the country’s most populous state.
The victory left the ruling Samajwadi Party and its ally Congress punctured with just 56 seats while the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was left a pathetic 19 seats. While Samajwadi Party leader and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav promptly resigned, BSP leader Mayawati attributed the rout to the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) which she said were manipulated.
“The historic mandate given to the BJP will give a new direction to Indian politics. It will end the politics of caste, dynasty (parivarvaad) and appeasement,” BJP President Amit Shah said. The BJP, he added, would form governments in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur.
“It is a monumental setback. We are disappointed with Uttar Pradesh,” Congress spokesman Sanjay Jha said. Added Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit: “Our party is looking confused.”
But other party leaders rushed to defend Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, saying he alone must not be blamed for the rout in Uttar Pradesh, where the Congress, having become in recent decades an also-ran, aligned with the Samajwadi Party just before the staggered assembly election.
In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP’s success rate enveloped both urban and rural areas and appeared to demolish traditional caste equations. BJP candidates won in all major cities including Lucknow, Allahabad, Kanpur and Varanasi, Modi’s Lok Sabha constituency.
While the Congress fared not so badly in Rae Bareli, it took a drubbing in Amethi, Rahul Gandhi’s Lok Sabha seat.
BJP leader Yogi Adityanath said: “Good work done by the Modi government and (BJP President) Amit Shah’s strategy has paid dividends.”
Accepting defeat, outgoing Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said: “I hope the next government will work better than SP government.”
Akhilesh, who is also the president of the Samajwadi Party, added: “I accept the verdict of the people, I will do analysis at booth level.”
He, however, said SP’s alliance with the Congress will continue, claiming that “We have been benefited” by it.
Asked to comment on BSP chief Mayawati’s allegation about tampering of EVMs, Akhilesh said, “If questions have been raised on EVMs, the government should probe it.”
Earlier, a fuming Mayawati alleged that EVMs had been tampered with in such a way that whichever button was pressed, the vote went to BJP.
Terming the results as “shocking”, she said the Election Commission should stop the counting and withhold results and hold fresh polls using traditional paper ballots.
Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday met Governor Ram Naik and submitted his resignation.
Akhilesh was asked to continue as caretaker chief minister till the next government is sworn in, officials said.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi on Saturday congratulated Prime Minister Modi and BJP for the party’s victory in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand assembly polls and said the Congress will continue its fight till it wins the hearts and minds of people.
“I congratulate Shri Narendra Modi and the BJP on their victory in Uttar Pradesh & Uttarakhand.” Gandhi said.
Modi on thanked Gandhi for complimenting him and his party for the victory.
“Thank you. Long live democracy!,” Modi said. — IANS, PTI
Amit Shah BJP president The historic mandate given to the BJP will give a new direction to Indian politics. It will end the politics of caste, dynasty (parivarvaad) and appeasement.’
Rahul Gandhi Congress vice-president I congratulate Shri Narendra Modi and the BJP on their victory in Uttar Pradesh & Uttarakhand’.