The high stakes election battle in Uttar Pradesh began on Thursday&nbsp;(February 10).

The first phase of the polling is scheduled to take place in 58 assembly seats spread across 11 districts in the western part of the state.

The most populous state will witness a four-way battle between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), against Samajwadi Party (SP), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and the Congress party.

For the 58 seats, including the nine reserved seats, a total of 623 candidates would be contesting, for which around 2.27 crore people would be voting in this phase.&nbsp;

The first phase will cover the Jat community-dominated belt of the western UP from where farmers had participated actively in the protest against the Centre's three agri laws in the national capital Delhi.

In 2017, the BJP bagged 53 of the 58 seats, while the Samajwadi Party and the BSP won only two seats each.

The voting will be held between 7 am and 6 pm. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.

The polling will be held using COVID-19 safety protocols and the guidelines as issued by the Election Commission.

While voters are required to wear masks, maintain social distance and use sanitiser during voting, the election officials will also be given a Covid kit to conduct the election smoothly.

Thermal scanning of all persons will be carried out before allowing them to enter the EVM room. The election commission may reserve the last one hour of the polling for COVID positive voters.

The exit poll for the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections will be declared on March 7 after the conclusion of the last phase of polls in UP.

The high stakes election battle in Uttar Pradesh began on Thursday (February 10). The first phase of the polling is scheduled to take place in 58 assembly seats spread across 11 districts in the western part of the state.

The high stakes election battle in Uttar Pradesh began on Thursday (February 10). The first phase of the polling is scheduled to take place in 58 assembly seats spread across 11 districts in the western part of the state. The most populous state will witness a four-way battle between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), against Samajwadi Party (SP), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and the Congress party. For the 58 seats, including the nine reserved seats, a total of 623 candidates would be contesting, for which around 2.27 crore people would be voting in this phase. The first phase will cover the Jat community-dominated belt of the western UP from where farmers had participated actively in the protest against the Centre's three agri laws in the national capital Delhi. In 2017, the BJP bagged 53 of the 58 seats, while the Samajwadi Party and the BSP won only two seats each. The voting will be held between 7 am and 6 pm. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. The polling will be held using COVID-19 safety protocols and the guidelines as issued by the Election Commission. While voters are required to wear masks, maintain social distance and use sanitiser during voting, the election officials will also be given a Covid kit to conduct the election smoothly. Thermal scanning of all persons will be carried out before allowing them to enter the EVM room. The election commission may reserve the last one hour of the polling for COVID positive voters. The exit poll for the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections will be declared on March 7 after the conclusion of the last phase of polls in UP.

Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections 2022: All you need to know about phase-I voting

Delhi Chief Minister and party convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday announced that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will contest the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in 2022.

He slammed the political parties in Uttar Pradesh, accusing them of stabbing the people in the back.

Questioning why people from UP should have to look at Delhi for health services and education, he said Mohalla clinics, free electricity, water, good education and health facilities can also be provided in the state.

"In eight years, the AAP formed government thrice in Delhi and has come out as main opposition in Punjab. We will fight Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in 2022," Kejriwal said.&nbsp;

"Many brothers and sisters of Uttar Pradesh live in Delhi. When AAP formed govt third time in Delhi, then many people belonging to UP gave us suggestions that we should contest polls in the state. They said that they were unhappy from the present parties in the state," he added.&nbsp;

On Monday, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said that his party will form the alliance with smaller parties in the upcoming Assembly polls.

Speaking to media when asked about the party`s alliance in the upcoming Assembly election in the state to stop the BJP, Yadav said, "Samajwadi Party will forge an alliance with smaller parties. Our experience has not been good with big parties. "The former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh said, "We are hopeful that in 2022 Samajwadi party will form the government in the state with the majority."

BJP had stormed back to power in the state in the 2017 Assembly polls. In the 403 member UP Assembly, among the major parties, BJP has 309 legislators, SP 49, BSP 18, and Congress 7.

(With inputs from agencies)

Delhi Chief Minister and party convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday announced that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will contest the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in 2022.

Delhi Chief Minister and party convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday announced that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will contest the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in 2022. He slammed the political parties in Uttar Pradesh, accusing them of stabbing the people in the back. Questioning why people from UP should have to look at Delhi for health services and education, he said Mohalla clinics, free electricity, water, good education and health facilities can also be provided in the state. "In eight years, the AAP formed government thrice in Delhi and has come out as main opposition in Punjab. We will fight Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in 2022," Kejriwal said. "Many brothers and sisters of Uttar Pradesh live in Delhi. When AAP formed govt third time in Delhi, then many people belonging to UP gave us suggestions that we should contest polls in the state. They said that they were unhappy from the present parties in the state," he added. On Monday, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said that his party will form the alliance with smaller parties in the upcoming Assembly polls. Speaking to media when asked about the party`s alliance in the upcoming Assembly election in the state to stop the BJP, Yadav said, "Samajwadi Party will forge an alliance with smaller parties. Our experience has not been good with big parties. "The former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh said, "We are hopeful that in 2022 Samajwadi party will form the government in the state with the majority." BJP had stormed back to power in the state in the 2017 Assembly polls. In the 403 member UP Assembly, among the major parties, BJP has 309 legislators, SP 49, BSP 18, and Congress 7. (With inputs from agencies)

AAP to contest Uttar Pradesh Assembly election in 2022: Arvind Kejriwal

In politics, a strong challenge is never received lightly and if it comes across as a fake call, then the person is not taken seriously thereafter.

Priyanka Gandhi by maintaining the suspense on her candidature from Varanasi’s Lok Sabha seat has made a serious error which she must avoid in future or her image would coalesce into a politician who is all thunder sans rain.&nbsp;

In past, politicians like Arjun Singh and Sharad Pawar suffered the same fate. After a point in time, none of them was taken seriously as contenders in Delhi. Similarly, it may boomerang in the long run for Priyanka Gandhi too.&nbsp;

She allowed Congress to gain space in media but ended up giving a handle to BJP in the last 4 phases of elections.

Henceforth, the attack on Congress would be brutal and direct. Priyanka Gandhi will be attacked for not having a stomach for a strong political fight.&nbsp;

What prompted Priyanka to keep people guessing remains a mystery but even Congress party president Rahul Gandhi did nothing to clear the fog. He participated in it by stating that he would like to keep the suspense on. It did not work. It fuelled the expectations which were not met, eventually, disappointing many.

The issue is as to what was the thinking behind keeping the suspense on? Did Congress develop cold feet in the end? Did &nbsp;Rahul Gandhi overrule her on the ground that she cannot give a fight to Narendra Modi and her loss would affect both party and her career? &nbsp;Lastly, why did it take Congress a month to realise that Modi is unbeatable in Varanasi? Was it not visible right at the start of the election campaign? Did a real possibility exist on the ground to defeat Modi? My take is that no such circumstances ever existed but even then Priyanka Gandhi Vadra sought suggestions from her constituents during her meeting in Amethi and Raebareli on fighting from Varanasi. 
 
Whatever may be the real reason, it is not available to media. In its absence, BJP will make Priyanka’s exit an electoral issue. BJP now can go to town shouting that Priyanka Vadra shied away from the big battle of Uttar Pradesh.

The discourse will be shifted from her charismatic appeal and being natural to her inability to stand up to a strong challenge. This will invite a focus on the top leadership of the Congress and fuel discourse that ‘family’ &nbsp;cannot look beyond safe seats. It will also make Gandhi's look less serious in public discussion. Priyanka in 2012 had once said, "Main Aaun Kya." She did not. It has happened again.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp;

In politics, a strong challenge is never received lightly and if it comes across as a fake call, then the person is not taken seriously thereafter. Priyanka Gandhi by maintaining the suspense on her candidature from Varanasi’s Lok Sabha seat has made a serious error which she must avoid in future or her image would coalesce into a politician who is all thunder sans rain.

In politics, a strong challenge is never received lightly and if it comes across as a fake call, then the person is not taken seriously thereafter. Priyanka Gandhi by maintaining the suspense on her candidature from Varanasi’s Lok Sabha seat has made a serious error which she must avoid in future or her image would coalesce into a politician who is all thunder sans rain. In past, politicians like Arjun Singh and Sharad Pawar suffered the same fate. After a point in time, none of them was taken seriously as contenders in Delhi. Similarly, it may boomerang in the long run for Priyanka Gandhi too. She allowed Congress to gain space in media but ended up giving a handle to BJP in the last 4 phases of elections. Henceforth, the attack on Congress would be brutal and direct. Priyanka Gandhi will be attacked for not having a stomach for a strong political fight. What prompted Priyanka to keep people guessing remains a mystery but even Congress party president Rahul Gandhi did nothing to clear the fog. He participated in it by stating that he would like to keep the suspense on. It did not work. It fuelled the expectations which were not met, eventually, disappointing many. The issue is as to what was the thinking behind keeping the suspense on? Did Congress develop cold feet in the end? Did Rahul Gandhi overrule her on the ground that she cannot give a fight to Narendra Modi and her loss would affect both party and her career? Lastly, why did it take Congress a month to realise that Modi is unbeatable in Varanasi? Was it not visible right at the start of the election campaign? Did a real possibility exist on the ground to defeat Modi? My take is that no such circumstances ever existed but even then Priyanka Gandhi Vadra sought suggestions from her constituents during her meeting in Amethi and Raebareli on fighting from Varanasi. Whatever may be the real reason, it is not available to media. In its absence, BJP will make Priyanka’s exit an electoral issue. BJP now can go to town shouting that Priyanka Vadra shied away from the big battle of Uttar Pradesh. The discourse will be shifted from her charismatic appeal and being natural to her inability to stand up to a strong challenge. This will invite a focus on the top leadership of the Congress and fuel discourse that ‘family’ cannot look beyond safe seats. It will also make Gandhi's look less serious in public discussion. Priyanka in 2012 had once said, "Main Aaun Kya." She did not. It has happened again. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Disappointing many, Priyanka Gandhi's suspense game gives BJP a political handle

Whether you like it or not, the use of Hindu symbolism is here to stay in Indian politics for a long time. What is happening in Congress today stands in stark contrast to Rahul Gandhi’s speech in Hyderabad in 2005 when the city hosted the plenary of the party.

Rahul Gandhi had said that the national flag is his religion. Today, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra despite her charismatic persona has not been able to ditch the trappings of cultural Hinduism publically espoused by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

I would even say that not only it shows lack of creative engagement with BJP, but Congress has fallen back upon soft Hindutva which it practised in the 1980s, leaving socialist sloganeering to regional parties cutting across India.

When Mayawati and Mulayam Singh fought elections together in the 1990s in wake of Babri Masjid’s demolition, they did not evoke cultural nationalism to fight BJP on the ground.

The politics of social justice still evoked strong sentiments and it is for this reason that the political slogan,”Mile Mulayam Kanshiram, hawa mein ud gaye Jai Sri Ram,” could not be contested by BJP as either anti-national or anti-Hindu keeping in mind caste sensitivities attached.

Today, neither Mayawati nor Akhilesh Yadav has attacked BJP on cultural position it has taken. Priyanka Vadra and Rahul Gandhi too have appropriated BJP’s political narrative of nation-building rather than challenging it from a non-left centrist point of view.

It begets the question as to why Gandhi’s became so vulnerable on the constitutional vision of India, unlike the first generation who were far more westernised and rabid on the issue of religious reform and change in the society. 
 
One, their religious identity as a Hindu was never in question and second, Congress as a party had strong conservative voices within the organisation. It allowed Congress to absorb and navigate hard Hindu politics led by RSS without pushing for any change in the Constitutional commitment towards the idea of India as conceived by the founding fathers.

The idea of India as conceived by the founding fathers was contested by RSS which argued that Constitution does not truly reflect the civilizational sensibility of the Indian sub-continent.

It is for this reason Congress will find centrist politics difficult, as it has failed to tackle ethnocentric political narrative which has marginalised them from 2012 onwards.

Congress today can neither go for the caste-specific alliance as regional parties or socialists of 70s, 80s and 90s were able to do so and nor it can push aside BJP on cultural nationalism as the theme&nbsp;originally belongs to RSS-BJP combine.&nbsp;

Congress needs to restore non-left centrism by authentic subaltern political sloganeering which picks up issues that are regional and cuts across caste and religion. At the central level, it needs to stick to Constitutional values which are being challenged in public for want of being unfair or unjust to the Hindu sensibility by RSS. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

&nbsp;

Whether you like it or not, the use of Hindu symbolism is here to stay in Indian politics for a long time. What is happening in Congress today stands in stark contrast to Rahul Gandhi’s speech in Hyderabad in 2005 when the city hosted the plenary of the party.

Whether you like it or not, the use of Hindu symbolism is here to stay in Indian politics for a long time. What is happening in Congress today stands in stark contrast to Rahul Gandhi’s speech in Hyderabad in 2005 when the city hosted the plenary of the party. Rahul Gandhi had said that the national flag is his religion. Today, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra despite her charismatic persona has not been able to ditch the trappings of cultural Hinduism publically espoused by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I would even say that not only it shows lack of creative engagement with BJP, but Congress has fallen back upon soft Hindutva which it practised in the 1980s, leaving socialist sloganeering to regional parties cutting across India. When Mayawati and Mulayam Singh fought elections together in the 1990s in wake of Babri Masjid’s demolition, they did not evoke cultural nationalism to fight BJP on the ground. The politics of social justice still evoked strong sentiments and it is for this reason that the political slogan,”Mile Mulayam Kanshiram, hawa mein ud gaye Jai Sri Ram,” could not be contested by BJP as either anti-national or anti-Hindu keeping in mind caste sensitivities attached. Today, neither Mayawati nor Akhilesh Yadav has attacked BJP on cultural position it has taken. Priyanka Vadra and Rahul Gandhi too have appropriated BJP’s political narrative of nation-building rather than challenging it from a non-left centrist point of view. It begets the question as to why Gandhi’s became so vulnerable on the constitutional vision of India, unlike the first generation who were far more westernised and rabid on the issue of religious reform and change in the society. One, their religious identity as a Hindu was never in question and second, Congress as a party had strong conservative voices within the organisation. It allowed Congress to absorb and navigate hard Hindu politics led by RSS without pushing for any change in the Constitutional commitment towards the idea of India as conceived by the founding fathers. The idea of India as conceived by the founding fathers was contested by RSS which argued that Constitution does not truly reflect the civilizational sensibility of the Indian sub-continent. It is for this reason Congress will find centrist politics difficult, as it has failed to tackle ethnocentric political narrative which has marginalised them from 2012 onwards. Congress today can neither go for the caste-specific alliance as regional parties or socialists of 70s, 80s and 90s were able to do so and nor it can push aside BJP on cultural nationalism as the theme originally belongs to RSS-BJP combine. Congress needs to restore non-left centrism by authentic subaltern political sloganeering which picks up issues that are regional and cuts across caste and religion. At the central level, it needs to stick to Constitutional values which are being challenged in public for want of being unfair or unjust to the Hindu sensibility by RSS. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s Ganga yatra and triumph of 'soft Hindutva'

The BJP are already celebrating in Delhi, and one party member is already looking ahead to 2014

Assembly Election results have only been coming in for just a couple hours, but the early numbers couldn't be clearer, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is already celebrating in the streets. BJP leading in Uttar Pradesh: Party workers celebrate in Kanpur. #ElectionResults pic.twitter.com/KfE5Dv10iq — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 11, 2017 × In fact one BJP member, former chief minister (CM) of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah, is so buoyed by early results he's already looking ahead to seven years down the road. At this rate we might as well forget 2019 & start planning/hoping for 2024. — Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) March 11, 2017 × Both in Lucknow and in Delhi the BJP are also in full on celebration mode, as poll results suggest an unsurpassble lead. BJP leading in Uttar Pradesh: Party workers celebrate in Lucknow #ElectionResults pic.twitter.com/SmmoBRNKSV — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 11, 2017 × UP ministers Azam Khan (from Rampur) and Gayatri Prajapati(from Amethi) leading #ElectionResults — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 11, 2017 × Meanwhile the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance, currently getting trounced, has unsurprisingly been less joyful, but not without grace. Conceding defeat even before all the results are officially in, SP member Naresh Agarwal has said, "we respect people's mandate". Samajwadi party's Naresh Agarwal concedes defeat in assembly polls in UP, says "we respect people's mandate" @ETVUPLIVE @MANMOHAN_RAI24 — Qazi Faraz Ahmad (@qazifarazahmad) March 11, 2017 × Rajiv Shukla also accepted the loss in a statement, but not without a little snipe. We respect the mandate, but development has lost and votebank politics has won:Rajiv Shukla,Congress on #uttarpradeshpolls2017 pic.twitter.com/Ir8CTqPvyD — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 11, 2017 × At this point it would take some kind of miracle for things to change. #ElectionResults @BJP4UP records 40.6% vote share so far in UP polls, @BspUp2017 22.3%, SP 21%, Congress 6.6% @livemint — Gireesh Chandra (@Firstday75) March 11, 2017 × More responses to come. (WION)

Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections: Reactions are pouring in

Continuing with his whirlwind tour of his parliamentary constituency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today visited Garhwa Ghat Ashram in Varanasi. The ashram has a huge following among the backward castes especially the Yadav community. He also paid homage to former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, who belonged to the Congress, at his ancestral house in Varanasi&#39;s Ramnagar area.

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PM Modi at Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial in Varanasi <a href="https://t.co/aanuIoYQO7">pic.twitter.com/aanuIoYQO7</a>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/838646818258837504">March 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Varanasi: PM Narendra Modi waves to supporters in Ram nagar, he is on his way to Lal Bahadur Shastri memorial <a href="https://t.co/anIxlHoAf8">pic.twitter.com/anIxlHoAf8</a>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/838643322277154817">March 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The visit to the ashram is seen as an attempt to woo the Yadav community as the head priest of the ashram traditionally comes from the Yadav caste.&nbsp;The visit came on the last day of campaigning in Uttar Pradesh before the seventh and final phase of polling for 40 seats which take place on Wednesday. The results will be declared&nbsp;on March 11.

He addressed a rally in Rohaniya, one of the assembly constituencies in Varanasi, where he took on the Akhilesh Yadav-led government targeting it for its&nbsp;anti-farmer policies.

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UP government is anti-farmer. Why they don&#39;t help farmers in distress: PM Modi at a rally in Rohaniya, Uttar Pradesh. <a href="https://t.co/1eDa0qOnkj">pic.twitter.com/1eDa0qOnkj</a>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/838673518443266048">March 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The prime minister has been vigorously campaigning in his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi for the last three days. Modi has held a roadshow and attended several public events here.

BJP sources believe that Modi&#39;s visit and his public felicitation by the ashram will send out a &quot;good signal&quot; to voters, especially the OBCs and the Dalits, PTI reported.

Varanasi has five assembly constituencies of which three are presently held by the BJP.

Addressing a gathering of intelligentsia last night, Modi quoted a verse by the medieval era poet Kabir saying: &quot;Those who are selfish tend to praise each other but the one who is selfless is never liked by them.&quot;&nbsp;

&quot;This appears to be my fate,&quot; said the Prime Minister, according to PTI. &nbsp;

Earlier, addressing a massive rally, Modi launched a scathing attack on the Samajwadi Party (SP) government blaming it&nbsp;for stalling development in Uttar Pradesh. He targeted the ruling party in UP on a range of issues including the bad condition of roads in Varanasi and erratic power supply in the state.&nbsp;

He lashed out at the Akhilesh Yadav-led government for not providing the list of those who need homes in UP to Centre. He said that his government is committed to&nbsp;providing homes to the homeless by 2022.

The prime minister said that the opposition believes in the maxim &quot;kuch ka saath, kuch ka vikas&quot;( support of few, development for few), which means development only for few. He said that the BJP government believes in &quot;sabka saath, sabka vikaas&quot;, which means development for everyone. Highlighting the skewed development of the state of Uttar Pradesh where the eastern part has lagged behind, he said that his government is committed towards the development of Purvanchal.

Hailing the Indian Army for the surgical strikes conducted on terror launch pads in Pakistan-administered Kashmir last year, the prime minister went all guns blazing against those who asked for proof of those strikes. He said those who are asking for proof do not respect the bravery of our soldiers.

He fiercely&nbsp;attacked&nbsp;the Congress saying that during the UPA government&nbsp;people used to hear stories about national wealth getting lost in various scams but in the present government of BJP&nbsp;people ask how much money is coming back in the system.&nbsp;

He said that opposition joined hands against the BJP after his surprise move to demonetise higher denomination currency last year.&nbsp;

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, while campaigning in Jaunpur, took a dig at the Prime Minister for spending too much time in his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi. He said that that if the BJP is so confident of a victory then what is the need for the prime minister to devote so much time to Varanasi. His wife Dimple Yadav said that people of UP have so much faith in Akhilesh Yadav that the prime minister has to hold back-to-back roadshows in Varanasi.

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Aisa bharosa logon ko aapke Akhilesh bhaiyya pe hai ki Pradhanmantriji ko 3-3 baar roadshow karni pad rahi hai Banaras mein: Dimple Yadav <a href="https://t.co/3U2rbv4CVb">pic.twitter.com/3U2rbv4CVb</a>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/838695179821338625">March 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The stakes are high for the BJP, Congress-SP alliance, and the BSP in the final leg of the Uttar Pradesh battle. The 40 seats that are going to polls in the final phase saw the Samajwadi party sweeping the region in 2012 elections with 23 seats. But, the tables turned in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections as the BJP won all the parliamentary constituencies in the region.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from agencies)

Stakes are high for the BJP, Congress-SP alliance, BSP in the final leg of the Uttar Pradesh battle

Continuing with his whirlwind tour of his parliamentary constituency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today visited Garhwa Ghat Ashram in Varanasi. The ashram has a huge following among the backward castes especially the Yadav community. He also paid homage to former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, who belonged to the Congress, at his ancestral house in Varanasi's Ramnagar area. PM Modi at Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial in Varanasi pic.twitter.com/aanuIoYQO7 — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 6, 2017 × Varanasi: PM Narendra Modi waves to supporters in Ram nagar, he is on his way to Lal Bahadur Shastri memorial pic.twitter.com/anIxlHoAf8 — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 6, 2017 × The visit to the ashram is seen as an attempt to woo the Yadav community as the head priest of the ashram traditionally comes from the Yadav caste. The visit came on the last day of campaigning in Uttar Pradesh before the seventh and final phase of polling for 40 seats which take place on Wednesday. The results will be declared on March 11. He addressed a rally in Rohaniya, one of the assembly constituencies in Varanasi, where he took on the Akhilesh Yadav-led government targeting it for its anti-farmer policies. UP government is anti-farmer. Why they don't help farmers in distress: PM Modi at a rally in Rohaniya, Uttar Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/1eDa0qOnkj — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 6, 2017 × The prime minister has been vigorously campaigning in his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi for the last three days. Modi has held a roadshow and attended several public events here. BJP sources believe that Modi's visit and his public felicitation by the ashram will send out a "good signal" to voters, especially the OBCs and the Dalits, PTI reported. Varanasi has five assembly constituencies of which three are presently held by the BJP. Addressing a gathering of intelligentsia last night, Modi quoted a verse by the medieval era poet Kabir saying: "Those who are selfish tend to praise each other but the one who is selfless is never liked by them." "This appears to be my fate," said the Prime Minister, according to PTI. Earlier, addressing a massive rally, Modi launched a scathing attack on the Samajwadi Party (SP) government blaming it for stalling development in Uttar Pradesh. He targeted the ruling party in UP on a range of issues including the bad condition of roads in Varanasi and erratic power supply in the state. He lashed out at the Akhilesh Yadav-led government for not providing the list of those who need homes in UP to Centre. He said that his government is committed to providing homes to the homeless by 2022. The prime minister said that the opposition believes in the maxim "kuch ka saath, kuch ka vikas"( support of few, development for few), which means development only for few. He said that the BJP government believes in "sabka saath, sabka vikaas", which means development for everyone. Highlighting the skewed development of the state of Uttar Pradesh where the eastern part has lagged behind, he said that his government is committed towards the development of Purvanchal. Hailing the Indian Army for the surgical strikes conducted on terror launch pads in Pakistan-administered Kashmir last year, the prime minister went all guns blazing against those who asked for proof of those strikes. He said those who are asking for proof do not respect the bravery of our soldiers. He fiercely attacked the Congress saying that during the UPA government people used to hear stories about national wealth getting lost in various scams but in the present government of BJP people ask how much money is coming back in the system. He said that opposition joined hands against the BJP after his surprise move to demonetise higher denomination currency last year. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, while campaigning in Jaunpur, took a dig at the Prime Minister for spending too much time in his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi. He said that that if the BJP is so confident of a victory then what is the need for the prime minister to devote so much time to Varanasi. His wife Dimple Yadav said that people of UP have so much faith in Akhilesh Yadav that the prime minister has to hold back-to-back roadshows in Varanasi. Aisa bharosa logon ko aapke Akhilesh bhaiyya pe hai ki Pradhanmantriji ko 3-3 baar roadshow karni pad rahi hai Banaras mein: Dimple Yadav pic.twitter.com/3U2rbv4CVb — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 6, 2017 × The stakes are high for the BJP, Congress-SP alliance, and the BSP in the final leg of the Uttar Pradesh battle. The 40 seats that are going to polls in the final phase saw the Samajwadi party sweeping the region in 2012 elections with 23 seats. But, the tables turned in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections as the BJP won all the parliamentary constituencies in the region. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Modi's final UP pitch: 'Opposition believes in development for few', Akhilesh slams PM's Varanasi roadshow

Elections in Uttar Pradesh have entered the final phase. In fact, it has entered the lion&rsquo;s den.&nbsp;

The last phase includes Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s parliamentary constituency Varanasi. Of the 40 seats, the last assembly elections held in 2012 saw the Samajwadi Party running away with 23 seats and the rest got divided between BJP, BSP, Congress and independents. This time around, the BJP wants to change the picture in the eastern corner of the state by increasing its tally from five odd seats. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi campaigning like an ordinary MP for three days, BJP desires to consolidate the lead it acquired after the third phase of the elections when identity politics set aside development as the main electoral theme. 
&nbsp; 
The naysayers may accuse PM Modi of communalising the elections but it ultimately ended in drawing both Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi in unchartered water. Though the Congress fell short of filing a complaint, the agenda of development took a beating pushing the BJP ahead. It is the harvest of this development that the BJP wants to reap in the last phase. 
&nbsp; 
The new-found confidence of BJP also rests on the performance of the BSP in the state whose candidates are consistently cutting into the SP-Congress alliance vote. The bifurcation of Muslim vote coupled with personalised campaign of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made the election truly triangular this time after a hiatus of 15 years. What makes it even more interesting is that despite high profile campaign of BJP and Congress-SP alliance, BSP continues to pull along even in the last phase making a clean sweep impossible for any one party. This has happened despite BJP treating UP like a prestige election. 
&nbsp; 
It is for this reason that the PM had to intensify the campaign so the message goes out that the BJP is going to fight for every seat, till the end. It is in this context Varanasi becomes extremely important for all the three parties. For SP-Congress, it is about retaining what they have and for BJP and BSP, this phase is an attempt to spectacularly beef up the numbers. BSP doesn&rsquo;t have catchy slogans but what it has is a web of strong local candidates who were given tickets 6 months in advance making every seat difficult for both BJP and BSP. 
&nbsp; 
Another important development which has gone unnoticed is that in all the eastern Uttar Pradesh elections, including the last phase, BJP seems to have been doing well in the rural areas. The resurgence for the BJP is not only coming from urban areas but rural pockets dominated by non-Yadav and Other Backward Castes. It is this development which should worry the Samajwadi Party-Congress combine which has most to lose in this phase. 
&nbsp; 
Though rallies and road shows have been packed for both of them but silent realignment cannot be ignored. The way BJP got surprised in the western Uttar Pradesh, the electorate is all set to surprise New Delhi in the eastern corner of the state which is all set to vote more for BJP. The sympathy which Ajit Singh received from the Jat community is all set to be compensated by a silent upsurge from marginal OBC groups in the eastern part. 
&nbsp; 
Lastly, the worst mistake which the SP-Congress made was that the&nbsp;Muslim vote would pull them through. Despite continuous commitment to the word &ldquo;kaam bolta hai&rdquo;, the sub text of Muslim vote remained dominant creating a silent majority polarisation. The only problem for BJP in Uttar Pradesh is not alliance but BSP which has worked assiduously post 2014 to work on the message that Dalits aren&rsquo;t a&nbsp;part of Hinduism as they have a different identity opposed to what is projected through Hindutva. If BJP wins or even does well, it will finish Mayawati in short term as non Jatav Dalits would finally become part of the Hindutva project. And in case she is able to either win or retain her constituency with added heft, the Hindutva project would remain an unfinished business for BJP.&nbsp; 
 
(WION) 
&nbsp;

The only problem for BJP in UP is BSP which has worked assiduously post 2014 to work on the message that Dalits aren?t a?part of Hinduism

Elections in Uttar Pradesh have entered the final phase. In fact, it has entered the lion’s den. The last phase includes Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary constituency Varanasi. Of the 40 seats, the last assembly elections held in 2012 saw the Samajwadi Party running away with 23 seats and the rest got divided between BJP, BSP, Congress and independents. This time around, the BJP wants to change the picture in the eastern corner of the state by increasing its tally from five odd seats. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi campaigning like an ordinary MP for three days, BJP desires to consolidate the lead it acquired after the third phase of the elections when identity politics set aside development as the main electoral theme. The naysayers may accuse PM Modi of communalising the elections but it ultimately ended in drawing both Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi in unchartered water. Though the Congress fell short of filing a complaint, the agenda of development took a beating pushing the BJP ahead. It is the harvest of this development that the BJP wants to reap in the last phase. The new-found confidence of BJP also rests on the performance of the BSP in the state whose candidates are consistently cutting into the SP-Congress alliance vote. The bifurcation of Muslim vote coupled with personalised campaign of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made the election truly triangular this time after a hiatus of 15 years. What makes it even more interesting is that despite high profile campaign of BJP and Congress-SP alliance, BSP continues to pull along even in the last phase making a clean sweep impossible for any one party. This has happened despite BJP treating UP like a prestige election. It is for this reason that the PM had to intensify the campaign so the message goes out that the BJP is going to fight for every seat, till the end. It is in this context Varanasi becomes extremely important for all the three parties. For SP-Congress, it is about retaining what they have and for BJP and BSP, this phase is an attempt to spectacularly beef up the numbers. BSP doesn’t have catchy slogans but what it has is a web of strong local candidates who were given tickets 6 months in advance making every seat difficult for both BJP and BSP. Another important development which has gone unnoticed is that in all the eastern Uttar Pradesh elections, including the last phase, BJP seems to have been doing well in the rural areas. The resurgence for the BJP is not only coming from urban areas but rural pockets dominated by non-Yadav and Other Backward Castes. It is this development which should worry the Samajwadi Party-Congress combine which has most to lose in this phase. Though rallies and road shows have been packed for both of them but silent realignment cannot be ignored. The way BJP got surprised in the western Uttar Pradesh, the electorate is all set to surprise New Delhi in the eastern corner of the state which is all set to vote more for BJP. The sympathy which Ajit Singh received from the Jat community is all set to be compensated by a silent upsurge from marginal OBC groups in the eastern part. Lastly, the worst mistake which the SP-Congress made was that the Muslim vote would pull them through. Despite continuous commitment to the word “kaam bolta hai”, the sub text of Muslim vote remained dominant creating a silent majority polarisation. The only problem for BJP in Uttar Pradesh is not alliance but BSP which has worked assiduously post 2014 to work on the message that Dalits aren’t a part of Hinduism as they have a different identity opposed to what is projected through Hindutva. If BJP wins or even does well, it will finish Mayawati in short term as non Jatav Dalits would finally become part of the Hindutva project. And in case she is able to either win or retain her constituency with added heft, the Hindutva project would remain an unfinished business for BJP. (WION)

Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections, Ground Zero Varanasi

A total of 57.03 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 5 pm&nbsp;today in the sixth phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

`Voter turnout in this phase as it stands at 5 pm has been 57.03 per cent against 55.04 percent of 2012. And this 57.03 percent is counting as at 5 pm,&quot; said Deputy Election Commissioner Vijay Kumar Dev at a press conference.

&quot;As per the figures that we have been able to receive from 72 per cent polling stations because balance 28 per cent polling stations are not in the communicational zone, so we do not have the figures yet. But 72 per cent polling stations the figures that have reached till 4 pm it is 84 per cent,&quot; said Sudeep Jain Director General.

Earlier, 24.50 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 11 am.Security arrangements were made for the electorate at 17,926 polling booths across 49 Assembly seats.

The districts that went to polls are Mau, Gorakhpur, Deoria, Ballia and Azamgarh. Around 1.72 crore voters, with 94.60 lakh men and 77.84 women, will decide the fate of 635 candidates.

The political fate of leaders like Union Minister Kalraj Singh and Firebrand leader Yogi Adityanath is at stake in this crucial phase of polls.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has fielded candidates on all 49 seats. Under their alliance, the Samajwadi Party is contesting 40 seats and the Congress nine seats.

The final figure for the voter turnout will be available only when these poll parties return.The results will be announced on March 11.&nbsp; 
 
(ANI)

The districts that went to polls are Mau, Gorakhpur, Deoria, Ballia and Azamgarh

A total of 57.03 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 5 pm today in the sixth phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. `Voter turnout in this phase as it stands at 5 pm has been 57.03 per cent against 55.04 percent of 2012. And this 57.03 percent is counting as at 5 pm," said Deputy Election Commissioner Vijay Kumar Dev at a press conference. "As per the figures that we have been able to receive from 72 per cent polling stations because balance 28 per cent polling stations are not in the communicational zone, so we do not have the figures yet. But 72 per cent polling stations the figures that have reached till 4 pm it is 84 per cent," said Sudeep Jain Director General. Earlier, 24.50 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 11 am.Security arrangements were made for the electorate at 17,926 polling booths across 49 Assembly seats. The districts that went to polls are Mau, Gorakhpur, Deoria, Ballia and Azamgarh. Around 1.72 crore voters, with 94.60 lakh men and 77.84 women, will decide the fate of 635 candidates. The political fate of leaders like Union Minister Kalraj Singh and Firebrand leader Yogi Adityanath is at stake in this crucial phase of polls. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has fielded candidates on all 49 seats. Under their alliance, the Samajwadi Party is contesting 40 seats and the Congress nine seats. The final figure for the voter turnout will be available only when these poll parties return.The results will be announced on March 11. (ANI)

Uttar Pradesh Polls: Over 57% polling recorded till 5 pm

Invoking the Kanpur train accident as an example of the deteriorating law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the incident, in which 150 people were killed, was carried out by perpetrators &quot;sitting across the border&quot; in Nepal.

The prime minister was addressing an election rally in the state&#39;s Gonda district, which goes to polls on February 27.

&ldquo;The Kanpur rail accident in which hundreds of people were killed was a conspiracy and conspirators carried it out sitting across the border&hellip; Gonda is adjoining Nepal,&rdquo; he said referring to the arrest of alleged ISI agent and the prime suspect in the Kanpur train tragedy, Shamshul Hoda, by the Nepal Police on February 7.

&quot;If the cross-border foes want to carry out their work, is it not necessary that more vigil is maintained in Gonda,&quot; Modi asked people as he exhorted them to vote for the BJP. &quot;Gonda needs to elect only those who are full of patriotism, only then we can do anything good for Gonda,&quot; he said.

Hitting out at the SP over the poor law and order situation, Modi said police stations in the state had turned into offices of the ruling party. &quot;No justice can be expected from these police stations as they are helpless as they await nod for action from SP bosses,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

The PM also asked people not to make a mistake in the election by voting for the BSP or the SP and instead vote for the BJP.

&ldquo;There should not be any mistake in this election&hellip; be it the SP or the BSP, not a single seat should go to them&hellip;100 per cent seats should be won by the BJP,&rdquo; the prime minister said.

Modi also criticised the Akhilesh Yadav-led SP for the poor education system, saying the &quot;copying mafia&quot; in the state was harming the youth with their &quot;contracts&quot; of colleges and schools during exams.

Calling the education system in Uttar Pradesh &#39;corrupt&#39; and &#39;poor&#39;, Modi asked him &quot;You went to Australia for higher studies. What about the students studying here?&quot;.

&quot;When I was thinking about speaking on the issue, I must honestly admit I was slightly scared as this topic heard on television by people in other parts of the country could give ideas to anti social elements to replicate the &#39;Sapa (Samajwadi Party) ka karobaar,&quot; he said to applause.

The prime minister said the inclusive policies of the BJP such as the Jan Dhan Yojna and the Rupay card were empowering the poor by bringing them into the banking system. He also cited the example of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) on gas connections and said millions of women had benefited under the central government scheme.

&quot;Till now 1.75 crore people have been given free gas connection and they have been saved from the hazardous smoke that choked their lungs,&quot; PM Modi said. 
 
He also promised small farmers that he would waive off their loans and also give them cash under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in case their crops were damaged within 15 days of reaping.

Modi also took a dig at the Congress&nbsp;for their poor show in Maharashtra&#39;s civic body elections.

&quot;The results in BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) polls are heartening for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).Where on the other hand , the Congress party has been completely wiped out from Maharashtra,&quot; said Modi.

&quot;People of our country have &#39;third eye&#39; like Lord Shiva and can differentiate between good and bad,&quot; Modi said in context of the festival of Maha Shivaratri which is being celebrated across the country today. 
Elections to the state are being held in seven phases. The results will be declared on March 11. 
 
This is the second time that the BJP has brought in the issue of terrorism in Uttar Pradesh.

Earlier, BJP president Amit Shah had asked the people of Uttar Pradesh to get rid of Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Ajmal Kasab, the Pakistani terrorist who was hanged after being convicted for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

&quot;People of Uttar Pradesh get rid of &lsquo;Kasab&rsquo; in this year&rsquo;s election. I say this again, People of Uttar Pradesh get rid of &lsquo;Kasab&rsquo; in this year&rsquo;s election. Don&rsquo;t take any other meaning of &lsquo;Kasab&rsquo;. By Kasab I mean, K for Congress party, S for Samajwadi Party and B for Bahujan Samaj Party. Unless you end Kasab, Uttar Pradesh will not develop,&rdquo; Amit Shah said at an election rally on February 22. 
 
(WION with inputs from &nbsp;PTI, ANI)

Narendra Modi blamed the Samajwadi Party government for the deteriorating law and order situation in the state

Invoking the Kanpur train accident as an example of the deteriorating law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the incident, in which 150 people were killed, was carried out by perpetrators "sitting across the border" in Nepal. The prime minister was addressing an election rally in the state's Gonda district, which goes to polls on February 27. “The Kanpur rail accident in which hundreds of people were killed was a conspiracy and conspirators carried it out sitting across the border… Gonda is adjoining Nepal,” he said referring to the arrest of alleged ISI agent and the prime suspect in the Kanpur train tragedy, Shamshul Hoda, by the Nepal Police on February 7. "If the cross-border foes want to carry out their work, is it not necessary that more vigil is maintained in Gonda," Modi asked people as he exhorted them to vote for the BJP. "Gonda needs to elect only those who are full of patriotism, only then we can do anything good for Gonda," he said. Hitting out at the SP over the poor law and order situation, Modi said police stations in the state had turned into offices of the ruling party. "No justice can be expected from these police stations as they are helpless as they await nod for action from SP bosses," he said. The PM also asked people not to make a mistake in the election by voting for the BSP or the SP and instead vote for the BJP. “There should not be any mistake in this election… be it the SP or the BSP, not a single seat should go to them…100 per cent seats should be won by the BJP,” the prime minister said. Modi also criticised the Akhilesh Yadav-led SP for the poor education system, saying the "copying mafia" in the state was harming the youth with their "contracts" of colleges and schools during exams. Calling the education system in Uttar Pradesh 'corrupt' and 'poor', Modi asked him "You went to Australia for higher studies. What about the students studying here?". "When I was thinking about speaking on the issue, I must honestly admit I was slightly scared as this topic heard on television by people in other parts of the country could give ideas to anti social elements to replicate the 'Sapa (Samajwadi Party) ka karobaar," he said to applause. The prime minister said the inclusive policies of the BJP such as the Jan Dhan Yojna and the Rupay card were empowering the poor by bringing them into the banking system. He also cited the example of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) on gas connections and said millions of women had benefited under the central government scheme. "Till now 1.75 crore people have been given free gas connection and they have been saved from the hazardous smoke that choked their lungs," PM Modi said. He also promised small farmers that he would waive off their loans and also give them cash under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in case their crops were damaged within 15 days of reaping. Modi also took a dig at the Congress for their poor show in Maharashtra's civic body elections. "The results in BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) polls are heartening for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).Where on the other hand , the Congress party has been completely wiped out from Maharashtra," said Modi. "People of our country have 'third eye' like Lord Shiva and can differentiate between good and bad," Modi said in context of the festival of Maha Shivaratri which is being celebrated across the country today. Elections to the state are being held in seven phases. The results will be declared on March 11. This is the second time that the BJP has brought in the issue of terrorism in Uttar Pradesh. Earlier, BJP president Amit Shah had asked the people of Uttar Pradesh to get rid of Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Ajmal Kasab, the Pakistani terrorist who was hanged after being convicted for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. "People of Uttar Pradesh get rid of ‘Kasab’ in this year’s election. I say this again, People of Uttar Pradesh get rid of ‘Kasab’ in this year’s election. Don’t take any other meaning of ‘Kasab’. By Kasab I mean, K for Congress party, S for Samajwadi Party and B for Bahujan Samaj Party. Unless you end Kasab, Uttar Pradesh will not develop,” Amit Shah said at an election rally on February 22. (WION with inputs from PTI, ANI)

Kanpur train accident was a conspiracy from across the border: PM Modi at election rally

Over 61 per cent of the electorate cast their franchise in the fourth phase of the ongoing Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, PTI reported quoting Election Commission officials. 
 
13.49 crores of cash and 3.26 lakh litres of liquor worth about Rs 8.17 crore were seized during polling, Election Commission officials told ANI.

Twelve districts spread over 53 constituencies went to polls today. These included Bundelkhand and the Congress bastion of Rae Bareilly.

The constituencies saw a turnout of 59.9 per cent in the assembly polls in 2012 and 57.1 per cent in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.&nbsp;

Polling also took place in Pratapgarh, Kaushambi, Allahabad, Jalaun, Jhansi, Lalitpur, Mahoba, Banda, Hamirpur, Chitrakoot and Fatehpur. More than 680 candidates are contesting the elections, and around 1.84 crore people were eligible to cast their vote in this phase.

Skirmishes erupted in Pratapgarh between BJP and BSP activists and in Mahoba between workers of the ruling Samajwadi Party and the BSP. 
 
The fourth phase is especially significant for the Congress as it won only six seats from among these constituencies in 2012.

This time, the Congress has struck an alliance with the Samajwadi Party -- the two parties are contesting 298 and 105 seats each.

Elections are taking place in seven-phases across Uttar Pradesh. Results will be declared on March 11.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Twelve districts spread over 53 constituencies went to polls today

Over 61 per cent of the electorate cast their franchise in the fourth phase of the ongoing Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, PTI reported quoting Election Commission officials. 13.49 crores of cash and 3.26 lakh litres of liquor worth about Rs 8.17 crore were seized during polling, Election Commission officials told ANI. Twelve districts spread over 53 constituencies went to polls today. These included Bundelkhand and the Congress bastion of Rae Bareilly. The constituencies saw a turnout of 59.9 per cent in the assembly polls in 2012 and 57.1 per cent in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Polling also took place in Pratapgarh, Kaushambi, Allahabad, Jalaun, Jhansi, Lalitpur, Mahoba, Banda, Hamirpur, Chitrakoot and Fatehpur. More than 680 candidates are contesting the elections, and around 1.84 crore people were eligible to cast their vote in this phase. Skirmishes erupted in Pratapgarh between BJP and BSP activists and in Mahoba between workers of the ruling Samajwadi Party and the BSP. The fourth phase is especially significant for the Congress as it won only six seats from among these constituencies in 2012. This time, the Congress has struck an alliance with the Samajwadi Party -- the two parties are contesting 298 and 105 seats each. Elections are taking place in seven-phases across Uttar Pradesh. Results will be declared on March 11. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Uttar Pradesh elections: Over 61% polling in Phase 4

In an exclusive interview with WION, India&#39;s Home minister Rajnath Singh spoke about BJP&#39;s chances of winning the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. He&nbsp;also defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s demonetisation policy, and the allegation that he&nbsp;was responsible for the logjam in Parliament following the &#39;raincoat&#39; jibe against&nbsp;former PM Manmohan Singh. The Home minister called on Pakistan to take tougher measures against Jama&#39;at-ud-Da&#39;wah (JuD) terrorist Hafiz Saeed who is currently under house arrest in Pakistan.

Q: What is your political assessment of Uttar Pradesh? 
A: BJP will get full majority in Uttar Pradesh.

Q: It is believed that RLD did a good job in the first phase? 
A: I don&rsquo;t believe this. We will also get a substantial chunk of Jat votes.

Q: How come the BJP changed goalposts during the&nbsp;middle of the elections. From development to cremation ground. Why did this happen?

A: People should not misinterpret the statement of the prime minister. What prime minister meant was that there shouldn&rsquo;t be any discrimination on the basis of caste and creed at an individual basis. He was speaking against vote bank politics and implementation of policies on the basis of captive votes. You don&rsquo;t do politics to come to power.

Q: Do you believe that SP discriminated on the basis of religion on the issue of subsidy 
A: SP has always believed in the divide and rule policy. Even BSP does it. They say, this community votes for us but this is the language which we can never use.&nbsp;

Q: Opposition has accused you of polarising politics? 
A: I&rsquo;m opposed to polarisation. It is injurious to this country. I don&rsquo;t believe in such politics.

Q: PM has been attacked up, close and personal in these elections? Leaders are targeting each other at a personal level? 
A: People should be careful about the words they use. PM is an institution and the dignity of the institution should be respected and the system shouldn&rsquo;t be broken. The consequence of such politics can be grave...

Q: PM is being projected as an outsider in the SP-Congress campaign? 
A: The PM belongs to the country...

Q: Akhilesh Yadav has made certain personal remarks about the PM? 
A: It is very unfortunate. If I would have been in his place and if I would have said something like it, I would have withdrawn my statement...&nbsp;

Q: How&rsquo;s the SP-Congress alliance doing? 
A: Minus plus minus will be zero. Two weak elements have come together to fight. It will have no impact on the Uttar Pradesh elections.

Q: Parliament has stopped functioning. What is the reason? 
A: It has to be taken very seriously. We have made all the outreach. People should come together and talk. We have tried our best to get the Opposition to talk to us. We did our bit...

Q: What about the current logjam? 
A: This can only be explained by the opposition not us...

Q: Is it because of the fact that the Congress has failed to accept that BJP has a full majority? 
A: I think they have not been able to reconcile to our massive victory in the 2014 elections.

Q: The House ended on the raincoat controversy. Where does Parliament go from here? 
A: They should understand that PM actually praised Manmohan Singh but it should also not be forgotten that it was Manmohan Singh who called demonetisation the biggest organized loot. Was he referring to Prime Minister Modi? On the basis of same interpretation, we should have got very angry as he was calling our PM &quot;lootera&quot; (looter) and criminal. No one blamed Manmohan Singh for corruption....

Q: How do you assess Rahul Gandhi as a leader? Opposition leaders play an important role in democratic a set-up... 
A: I wish Rahul Gandhi best of luck that he emerges as a seasoned, dynamic, visionary and a mature leader. He has my &quot;aashirwaad&quot; (blessings).

Q: Who is your opponent in Uttar Pradesh? 
A: It is a mixed bag. There are areas in which the SP is fighting us and in some areas, the SP-Congress alliance is giving us a fight...

Q: What makes BJP a player after 15 years in UP? 
A: I know the reason but will not share it. What I can say is that BJP&rsquo;s credibility has increased. People believe that BJP commits itself to word and deed. They find no difference between the word and the deed. There are no corruption charges against leaders in this government. The economy is doing well. All of this has helped us...

Q: How come not a single Muslim got a ticket from BJP. You earlier said that BJP believes in &quot;sabka saath sabka vikas&quot; (development for everyone)? 
A: This is right. People get tickets on the basis of strength. But we will remember this in future that Muslims should get tickets in Uttar Pradesh. MJ Akbar and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi are there in the Centre. There have been instances that people have been accommodated in the states from the Upper House&nbsp;but it would have been better if there would have been Muslim candidates...

Q: Even your critics are considered to be the inheritor of Atal Bihari Vajpaye&rsquo;s style of politics? Your comments... 
A: I can never ever forget Vajpayee. He influenced me. I would say that people like me cannot become Vajpayee. He was god gifted. Despite not being in active politics, people still clap for him...

Q: You worked with both Modi and Vajpaye. What is the difference between them? 
A: It would be unfair to compare Modi with Vajpaye. Both leaders have different qualities. They have different working styles. Each is unique and different so one cannot cross-evaluate?

Q: How do you define your relationship with the PM? Once you were compatriots? 
A: I have a very good relationship with the PM. Our relationship has not changed but now he is my Prime Minister. We have to work within the norms. He is our Prime Minister and I&rsquo;m mindful of it but our relationship remains the same.

Q: How will the results in Uttar Pradesh impact UP elections? 
A: It is a big state and that is the reason why it will have an impact. But issues are different. State-level elections are on local issues. National issues have a limited impact in the state...

Q: Is demonetisation an issue? 
A: I get feedback. It is a major achievement on part of our government. People suffered but did not question the intentions of the Prime Minister which in itself is important...

Q: Is MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) prepared for the summer&nbsp;in Valley? The situation last time was bad... 
A: Kashmir should normalise and we are trying our best to do so. I would add that this is not the first time the Valley has seen a situation like this, similar situation has been witnessed in the past where lot of people have been affected but It is unfortunate. We want political parties to cooperate.

Q: We have seen that security operations are being hampered in the Valley which is a new development. How do you see it? 
A: There are forces which are creating problems and we need to identity them and do something about it. We need to think about it.

Q: Yashwant Sinha, your former colleague and senior BJP leader has openly spoken about talks with Kashmiris. Your comment? 
A: I have gone to Kashmir thrice. I&rsquo;m open to talk within the Kashmiriyat, jhamoriyat and insaniyat. It is not the fault of the government that these people didn&rsquo;t come...

Q: Has surgical strike changed anything for you? 
A: Things have changed. It has raised the morale of the army. Terrorists are being killed on a daily basis which never happened before. The surgical strike has held us in good stead... &nbsp;

Q: Why are you raising the issue of Pakistan and surgical strikes during rallies? 
A: Every Indian has a sense of pride which is known as national pride. That is why people responded to me with the feeling that this government protects national interest.

Q: How can this be turned into an electoral issue when you are calling it a national issue? 
A: Governments are formed through elections and development is not the only goal. The responsibility of the government entails national pride and national security.

Q: You have taken a tough stand on Pakistan? 
A: I also mentioned that Pakistan is our neighbour. We called all countries for Modi&#39;s swearing-in ceremony.

Q: But you also said that you weren&#39;t keen to go to Pakistan? 
A: I thought that SAARC would be a formal affair and wanted the MOS (Minister of State) to go. Then I realised that there was a campaign organised against India and people were shouting anti-India slogans and those leading the crowd were terror leaders, I decided to go. I said what I wanted to. Blunt speak.

Q: Then why is the MHA shying away from declaring Pakistan a terrorist state? 
A: We don&rsquo;t want to take any decision in a hurry. We are a global village. Terrorism is a challenge for the world. We want other countries to cooperate with us. PM has taken many nations on board....

Q: You said the&nbsp;world is a global village but your biggest neighbour China is on Hafiz Saeed&#39;s side&nbsp;with Pakistan?

A: Even Pakistan&rsquo;s defence minister has spoken. It is a good signal. But a decisive step is required. House arrest will not do. When I say decisive step I mean that some action needs to be taken. Law must take its own course. House arrest is just a fake step. More needs to be done. Law must catch up and this eyewash cannot continue...&nbsp;

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In an interview with WION, Home minister Rajnath Singh said that Pakistans action on Hafiz Saeed was an eyewash and Pakistan needed to do more on terror. He also promised to punish those threatening J&amp;K security (WION)
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(WION)

 
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India's Home minister Rajnath Singh said Pakistan needed to take tough action against the JuD terrorist

In an exclusive interview with WION, India's Home minister Rajnath Singh spoke about BJP's chances of winning the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. He also defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi's demonetisation policy, and the allegation that he was responsible for the logjam in Parliament following the 'raincoat' jibe against former PM Manmohan Singh. The Home minister called on Pakistan to take tougher measures against Jama'at-ud-Da'wah (JuD) terrorist Hafiz Saeed who is currently under house arrest in Pakistan. Q: What is your political assessment of Uttar Pradesh? A: BJP will get full majority in Uttar Pradesh. Q: It is believed that RLD did a good job in the first phase? A: I don’t believe this. We will also get a substantial chunk of Jat votes. Q: How come the BJP changed goalposts during the middle of the elections. From development to cremation ground. Why did this happen? A: People should not misinterpret the statement of the prime minister. What prime minister meant was that there shouldn’t be any discrimination on the basis of caste and creed at an individual basis. He was speaking against vote bank politics and implementation of policies on the basis of captive votes. You don’t do politics to come to power. Q: Do you believe that SP discriminated on the basis of religion on the issue of subsidy A: SP has always believed in the divide and rule policy. Even BSP does it. They say, this community votes for us but this is the language which we can never use. Q: Opposition has accused you of polarising politics? A: I’m opposed to polarisation. It is injurious to this country. I don’t believe in such politics. Q: PM has been attacked up, close and personal in these elections? Leaders are targeting each other at a personal level? A: People should be careful about the words they use. PM is an institution and the dignity of the institution should be respected and the system shouldn’t be broken. The consequence of such politics can be grave... Q: PM is being projected as an outsider in the SP-Congress campaign? A: The PM belongs to the country... Q: Akhilesh Yadav has made certain personal remarks about the PM? A: It is very unfortunate. If I would have been in his place and if I would have said something like it, I would have withdrawn my statement... Q: How’s the SP-Congress alliance doing? A: Minus plus minus will be zero. Two weak elements have come together to fight. It will have no impact on the Uttar Pradesh elections. Q: Parliament has stopped functioning. What is the reason? A: It has to be taken very seriously. We have made all the outreach. People should come together and talk. We have tried our best to get the Opposition to talk to us. We did our bit... Q: What about the current logjam? A: This can only be explained by the opposition not us... Q: Is it because of the fact that the Congress has failed to accept that BJP has a full majority? A: I think they have not been able to reconcile to our massive victory in the 2014 elections. Q: The House ended on the raincoat controversy. Where does Parliament go from here? A: They should understand that PM actually praised Manmohan Singh but it should also not be forgotten that it was Manmohan Singh who called demonetisation the biggest organized loot. Was he referring to Prime Minister Modi? On the basis of same interpretation, we should have got very angry as he was calling our PM "lootera" (looter) and criminal. No one blamed Manmohan Singh for corruption.... Q: How do you assess Rahul Gandhi as a leader? Opposition leaders play an important role in democratic a set-up... A: I wish Rahul Gandhi best of luck that he emerges as a seasoned, dynamic, visionary and a mature leader. He has my "aashirwaad" (blessings). Q: Who is your opponent in Uttar Pradesh? A: It is a mixed bag. There are areas in which the SP is fighting us and in some areas, the SP-Congress alliance is giving us a fight... Q: What makes BJP a player after 15 years in UP? A: I know the reason but will not share it. What I can say is that BJP’s credibility has increased. People believe that BJP commits itself to word and deed. They find no difference between the word and the deed. There are no corruption charges against leaders in this government. The economy is doing well. All of this has helped us... Q: How come not a single Muslim got a ticket from BJP. You earlier said that BJP believes in "sabka saath sabka vikas" (development for everyone)? A: This is right. People get tickets on the basis of strength. But we will remember this in future that Muslims should get tickets in Uttar Pradesh. MJ Akbar and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi are there in the Centre. There have been instances that people have been accommodated in the states from the Upper House but it would have been better if there would have been Muslim candidates... Q: Even your critics are considered to be the inheritor of Atal Bihari Vajpaye’s style of politics? Your comments... A: I can never ever forget Vajpayee. He influenced me. I would say that people like me cannot become Vajpayee. He was god gifted. Despite not being in active politics, people still clap for him... Q: You worked with both Modi and Vajpaye. What is the difference between them? A: It would be unfair to compare Modi with Vajpaye. Both leaders have different qualities. They have different working styles. Each is unique and different so one cannot cross-evaluate? Q: How do you define your relationship with the PM? Once you were compatriots? A: I have a very good relationship with the PM. Our relationship has not changed but now he is my Prime Minister. We have to work within the norms. He is our Prime Minister and I’m mindful of it but our relationship remains the same. Q: How will the results in Uttar Pradesh impact UP elections? A: It is a big state and that is the reason why it will have an impact. But issues are different. State-level elections are on local issues. National issues have a limited impact in the state... Q: Is demonetisation an issue? A: I get feedback. It is a major achievement on part of our government. People suffered but did not question the intentions of the Prime Minister which in itself is important... Q: Is MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) prepared for the summer in Valley? The situation last time was bad... A: Kashmir should normalise and we are trying our best to do so. I would add that this is not the first time the Valley has seen a situation like this, similar situation has been witnessed in the past where lot of people have been affected but It is unfortunate. We want political parties to cooperate. Q: We have seen that security operations are being hampered in the Valley which is a new development. How do you see it? A: There are forces which are creating problems and we need to identity them and do something about it. We need to think about it. Q: Yashwant Sinha, your former colleague and senior BJP leader has openly spoken about talks with Kashmiris. Your comment? A: I have gone to Kashmir thrice. I’m open to talk within the Kashmiriyat, jhamoriyat and insaniyat. It is not the fault of the government that these people didn’t come... Q: Has surgical strike changed anything for you? A: Things have changed. It has raised the morale of the army. Terrorists are being killed on a daily basis which never happened before. The surgical strike has held us in good stead... Q: Why are you raising the issue of Pakistan and surgical strikes during rallies? A: Every Indian has a sense of pride which is known as national pride. That is why people responded to me with the feeling that this government protects national interest. Q: How can this be turned into an electoral issue when you are calling it a national issue? A: Governments are formed through elections and development is not the only goal. The responsibility of the government entails national pride and national security. Q: You have taken a tough stand on Pakistan? A: I also mentioned that Pakistan is our neighbour. We called all countries for Modi's swearing-in ceremony. Q: But you also said that you weren't keen to go to Pakistan? A: I thought that SAARC would be a formal affair and wanted the MOS (Minister of State) to go. Then I realised that there was a campaign organised against India and people were shouting anti-India slogans and those leading the crowd were terror leaders, I decided to go. I said what I wanted to. Blunt speak. Q: Then why is the MHA shying away from declaring Pakistan a terrorist state? A: We don’t want to take any decision in a hurry. We are a global village. Terrorism is a challenge for the world. We want other countries to cooperate with us. PM has taken many nations on board.... Q: You said the world is a global village but your biggest neighbour China is on Hafiz Saeed's side with Pakistan? A: Even Pakistan’s defence minister has spoken. It is a good signal. But a decisive step is required. House arrest will not do. When I say decisive step I mean that some action needs to be taken. Law must take its own course. House arrest is just a fake step. More needs to be done. Law must catch up and this eyewash cannot continue... In an interview with WION, Home minister Rajnath Singh said that Pakistans action on Hafiz Saeed was an eyewash and Pakistan needed to do more on terror. He also promised to punish those threatening J&K security (WION) × (WION)

Hafiz Saeed's house arrest is just a fake step, says Rajnath Singh

In an interview to PTI, BJP president Amit Shah said that there was &quot;no question&quot; of any post-poll alliance with the BSP or any party. He also said the BJP had deliberately not declared its chief ministerial candidate for Uttar Pradesh&nbsp;as it is a part of its poll strategy.

Asked if the BJP would be willing to ally with the BSP or any other party to form a government in the politically crucial state if it fell short of a majority, the BJP president explicitly stated, &quot;Kisi se bhi haath milane ka dur-dur tak koi swaal nahin uthatha (there is no question by far of joining hands with any party).&quot;

A few poll surveys and political experts have forecast a hung assembly in the state where elections are currently being held in seven-phases with the fourth phase set for tomorrow.&nbsp;

In the 2014 general elections, the BJP had won 71 of the 80 Lok Sabha (Lower House) seats, beating the SP-Congress alliance and Mayawati&#39;s BSP quite easily.

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They will ask your religion &amp; caste first, if that doesn&#39;t seem favourable to them, they won&#39;t give you laptop: Amit Shah in Chauri Chaura <a href="https://t.co/zSOVBahTNV">pic.twitter.com/zSOVBahTNV</a>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/834367588041945088">February 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The BJP president hopes to ride the 2014 wave in Uttar Pradesh, not only this, he feels the BJP will win in Uttarakhand and Goa with &quot;full majority&quot;.

He said it was &quot;difficult to guess&quot; who would win in Punjab, noting that it was a &quot;triangular contest&quot; in the state involving the SAD-BJP, Congress and the AAP.

Akhilesh Yadav slams PM Modi over demonetisation.

Meanwhile, the BSP, SP and the Congress - key parties in the ongoing Uttar Pradesh polls criticised the Modi-led BJP over demonetisation and other issues in various election rallies in the state.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi has written a letter to the prime minister questioning him over his 2014 poll promise to bring &quot;acche din&quot; (good days) back.

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Due to some reasons, I couldn&#39;t be present between all of you this time. Representing you is a matter of pride for me,my family:Sonia Gandhi <a href="https://t.co/DzTqwvfuwG">pic.twitter.com/DzTqwvfuwG</a>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/834354553692753921">February 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Centre Govt is depriving you (ppl) of welfare programmes deliberately, &amp; I am pained to see this happening: Sonia Gandhi addresses in letter <a href="https://t.co/B3XIIQP3RB">pic.twitter.com/B3XIIQP3RB</a>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/834355050600361984">February 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
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At an election rally in Bahraich district, SP President Akhilesh Yadav said Modi had not released statistics showing that black money, corruption and terrorism had come to an end after demonetisation.

&quot;You had said demonetisation would being an end to black money, corruption and terrorism. Where are the statistics? (Notebandi se aapne jo kaha tha ki kaladhan, corruption aur aatankwad khatam ho jayega, aankadey kahan hai?,&quot; Akhilesh Yadav said.

On the SP&#39;s seat-sharing with the Congress, Akhilesh said, &quot;If friendship is done with a big heart, it stays but if you befriend a miser the bond is unlikely to last.&quot;

After the Congress-SP alliance, the confusion in the minds of the people, has come to an end now,&quot; Akhilesh Yadav said at a rally in Shravasti district.

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Hum zimmedaari se PM ko kehte hain khao Ganga maiyya ki kasam ki hum Kashi mein 24ghante bijli de rahein hain ki nahi de rahe:Akhilesh Yadav <a href="https://t.co/1TM4d1o2Xv">pic.twitter.com/1TM4d1o2Xv</a>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/834347017937760256">February 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Reservations will be removed if BJP comes to power: Mayawati

On another front, BSP chief Mayawati said she had been informed by &quot;sources&quot; that the BJP would remove reservations if it came to power in Uttar Pradesh.

&quot;If BJP comes to power in the elections, all reservations will go away, have got information from sources,&quot; Mayawati said at a rally in Faizabad district.

&quot;You can only guess how many Rohit Vemula or Una cases will happen if BJP comes to power in the state,&quot; the BSP chief declared.

She was referring to Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula, who spoke up for his community and committed suicide in Karnataka and to the thrashing of Dalits in Gujarat&#39;s Una after being wrongly accused of killing a cow.

&quot;Now the people will refer to the BJP as &#39;party of frauds&#39; instead of the &#39;party of people&#39; not only in Uttar Pradesh but the entire country,&quot; Mayawati said in Faizabad.

(WION with inputs from agencies)

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BJP president Amit Shah is confident of his party's win in UP, Uttarakhand and Goa but he is unclear about the outcome in Punjab

In an interview to PTI, BJP president Amit Shah said that there was "no question" of any post-poll alliance with the BSP or any party. He also said the BJP had deliberately not declared its chief ministerial candidate for Uttar Pradesh as it is a part of its poll strategy. Asked if the BJP would be willing to ally with the BSP or any other party to form a government in the politically crucial state if it fell short of a majority, the BJP president explicitly stated, "Kisi se bhi haath milane ka dur-dur tak koi swaal nahin uthatha (there is no question by far of joining hands with any party)." A few poll surveys and political experts have forecast a hung assembly in the state where elections are currently being held in seven-phases with the fourth phase set for tomorrow. In the 2014 general elections, the BJP had won 71 of the 80 Lok Sabha (Lower House) seats, beating the SP-Congress alliance and Mayawati's BSP quite easily. They will ask your religion & caste first, if that doesn't seem favourable to them, they won't give you laptop: Amit Shah in Chauri Chaura pic.twitter.com/zSOVBahTNV — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) February 22, 2017 × The BJP president hopes to ride the 2014 wave in Uttar Pradesh, not only this, he feels the BJP will win in Uttarakhand and Goa with "full majority". He said it was "difficult to guess" who would win in Punjab, noting that it was a "triangular contest" in the state involving the SAD-BJP, Congress and the AAP. Akhilesh Yadav slams PM Modi over demonetisation. Meanwhile, the BSP, SP and the Congress - key parties in the ongoing Uttar Pradesh polls criticised the Modi-led BJP over demonetisation and other issues in various election rallies in the state. Congress president Sonia Gandhi has written a letter to the prime minister questioning him over his 2014 poll promise to bring "acche din" (good days) back. Due to some reasons, I couldn't be present between all of you this time. Representing you is a matter of pride for me,my family:Sonia Gandhi pic.twitter.com/DzTqwvfuwG — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) February 22, 2017 × Centre Govt is depriving you (ppl) of welfare programmes deliberately, & I am pained to see this happening: Sonia Gandhi addresses in letter pic.twitter.com/B3XIIQP3RB — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) February 22, 2017 × At an election rally in Bahraich district, SP President Akhilesh Yadav said Modi had not released statistics showing that black money, corruption and terrorism had come to an end after demonetisation. "You had said demonetisation would being an end to black money, corruption and terrorism. Where are the statistics? (Notebandi se aapne jo kaha tha ki kaladhan, corruption aur aatankwad khatam ho jayega, aankadey kahan hai?," Akhilesh Yadav said. On the SP's seat-sharing with the Congress, Akhilesh said, "If friendship is done with a big heart, it stays but if you befriend a miser the bond is unlikely to last." After the Congress-SP alliance, the confusion in the minds of the people, has come to an end now," Akhilesh Yadav said at a rally in Shravasti district. Hum zimmedaari se PM ko kehte hain khao Ganga maiyya ki kasam ki hum Kashi mein 24ghante bijli de rahein hain ki nahi de rahe:Akhilesh Yadav pic.twitter.com/1TM4d1o2Xv — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) February 22, 2017 × Reservations will be removed if BJP comes to power: Mayawati On another front, BSP chief Mayawati said she had been informed by "sources" that the BJP would remove reservations if it came to power in Uttar Pradesh. "If BJP comes to power in the elections, all reservations will go away, have got information from sources," Mayawati said at a rally in Faizabad district. "You can only guess how many Rohit Vemula or Una cases will happen if BJP comes to power in the state," the BSP chief declared. She was referring to Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula, who spoke up for his community and committed suicide in Karnataka and to the thrashing of Dalits in Gujarat's Una after being wrongly accused of killing a cow. "Now the people will refer to the BJP as 'party of frauds' instead of the 'party of people' not only in Uttar Pradesh but the entire country," Mayawati said in Faizabad. (WION with inputs from agencies)

No question of post-poll alliance with BSP or any party: BJP president Amit Shah

The BJP on Saturday targeted Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav for campaigning on behalf of criminals in the state.

The party targeted Priyanka Gandhi for campaigning for the Congress-SP alliance in Rae Bareli. It said it was unfortunate that she was seeking votes for those accused of &quot;rape and murder&quot;.

&quot;It is unfortunate that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra sought votes for someone who is accused of a heinous crime like rape. She chose to keep mum on the allegation. She and Rahul Gandhi are not with the people of Uttar Pradesh but with those accused of rape and murder and those who protect them,&quot; BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said.

He was referring&nbsp;to the accusation of rape against Gayatri Prajapati, a minister in the SP government who is contesting the polls from Amethi, and the murder charge against another SP nominee Arun Verma. A police complaint was registered against Gayatri Prajapati on Saturday in a gang-rape and sexual harassment case on the order of India&#39;s top court.

&quot;Akhilesh Yadav was the one who went around campaigning in the state with one hand on Gayatri Prajapati&#39;s shoulders. People of Uttar Pradesh are now looking for answers over women&#39;s safety from him. It&#39;s shocking that those who have untoward intentions against women are the very ministers being protected by Akhilesh,&quot; BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain told ANI.

Mayawati attacks SP over law and order situation

BSP chief Mayawati also held Akhilesh Yadav responsible for the &quot;bad shape of law-and-order&quot; in the state at a poll rally in the state.

She also claimed that SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav&#39;s brother Shivpal Yadav was &quot;working internally&quot; to &quot;cut the votes&quot; of that party.

Mayawati criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for &quot;overburdening&quot; the population as a result of their policy of demonetisation for countering black money in the economy.

&quot;The people of Uttar Pradesh have made up their minds not to elect the adopted son (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) but their own daughter (Mayawati) in this election,&quot; Mayawati said at a poll meeting in Jhansi.

Taking a dig at Indian prime minister Narendra Modi&#39;s &quot;adopted son&quot; remark, BSP chief Mayawati said she was sure the people of Uttar Pradesh would ensure the victory of their &quot;own daughter&quot; rather than the &quot;adopted son&quot;.aimed that the people of Uttar Pradesh as well as the rest of the country were &quot;fed up&quot; with the almost three years of the Modi government at the Centre.

Opposition wary of SP-Congress alliance: Akhilesh Yadav

Akhilesh Yadav claimed today that the&nbsp;Opposition parties were so disturbed over SP-Congress alliance that the tie-up was&nbsp;their only talking point during their poll campaigns.

&quot;Ever since Congress has come with us, they (opposition parties) are not able to understand which way this path will lead them to...They are talking only on SP and Congress and nothing else,&quot; the Uttar Pradesh chief minister&nbsp;told an election meeting in the state&#39;s Banda city.

He also said that PM Modi was wrongly claiming that the SP government had not undertaken any measures for the development of the state.

Citing&nbsp;the development works incuding the building of roads carried out by him, Akhilesh&nbsp;appealed to voters to compare the work undertaken by his government with those of chief ministers in the past.

He also criticised the BSP for fooling the people with claims that they would not build any more memorials and statues.&nbsp;He was&nbsp;reference was to stone statues built by Mayawati during her tenure as chief minister.

&quot;Who will believe them? She (Mayawati) says she will sit in the opposition (if she does not get majority)...She has celebrated &#39;raksha bandhan&#39; earlier too with BJP...May be my &#39;buaji&#39; (aunt) can side with them once again,&quot; he said while referring to Mayawati.

(WION with inputs from agencies)

The party was referring to Samajwadi Party and Congress' support for Gayatri Prajapati, a minister accused of rape

The BJP on Saturday targeted Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav for campaigning on behalf of criminals in the state. The party targeted Priyanka Gandhi for campaigning for the Congress-SP alliance in Rae Bareli. It said it was unfortunate that she was seeking votes for those accused of "rape and murder". "It is unfortunate that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra sought votes for someone who is accused of a heinous crime like rape. She chose to keep mum on the allegation. She and Rahul Gandhi are not with the people of Uttar Pradesh but with those accused of rape and murder and those who protect them," BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said. He was referring to the accusation of rape against Gayatri Prajapati, a minister in the SP government who is contesting the polls from Amethi, and the murder charge against another SP nominee Arun Verma. A police complaint was registered against Gayatri Prajapati on Saturday in a gang-rape and sexual harassment case on the order of India's top court. "Akhilesh Yadav was the one who went around campaigning in the state with one hand on Gayatri Prajapati's shoulders. People of Uttar Pradesh are now looking for answers over women's safety from him. It's shocking that those who have untoward intentions against women are the very ministers being protected by Akhilesh," BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain told ANI. Mayawati attacks SP over law and order situation BSP chief Mayawati also held Akhilesh Yadav responsible for the "bad shape of law-and-order" in the state at a poll rally in the state. She also claimed that SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav's brother Shivpal Yadav was "working internally" to "cut the votes" of that party. Mayawati criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "overburdening" the population as a result of their policy of demonetisation for countering black money in the economy. "The people of Uttar Pradesh have made up their minds not to elect the adopted son (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) but their own daughter (Mayawati) in this election," Mayawati said at a poll meeting in Jhansi. Taking a dig at Indian prime minister Narendra Modi's "adopted son" remark, BSP chief Mayawati said she was sure the people of Uttar Pradesh would ensure the victory of their "own daughter" rather than the "adopted son".aimed that the people of Uttar Pradesh as well as the rest of the country were "fed up" with the almost three years of the Modi government at the Centre. Opposition wary of SP-Congress alliance: Akhilesh Yadav Akhilesh Yadav claimed today that the Opposition parties were so disturbed over SP-Congress alliance that the tie-up was their only talking point during their poll campaigns. "Ever since Congress has come with us, they (opposition parties) are not able to understand which way this path will lead them to...They are talking only on SP and Congress and nothing else," the Uttar Pradesh chief minister told an election meeting in the state's Banda city. He also said that PM Modi was wrongly claiming that the SP government had not undertaken any measures for the development of the state. Citing the development works incuding the building of roads carried out by him, Akhilesh appealed to voters to compare the work undertaken by his government with those of chief ministers in the past. He also criticised the BSP for fooling the people with claims that they would not build any more memorials and statues. He was reference was to stone statues built by Mayawati during her tenure as chief minister. "Who will believe them? She (Mayawati) says she will sit in the opposition (if she does not get majority)...She has celebrated 'raksha bandhan' earlier too with BJP...May be my 'buaji' (aunt) can side with them once again," he said while referring to Mayawati. (WION with inputs from agencies)

UP election round-up: BJP slams Priyanka, Akhilesh for backing 'criminals'

Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi made their first joint appearance in Congress bastion Rae Bareli in the ongoing Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh elections.

The Congress vice-president attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not fulfilling the promises made to the people of the state.&nbsp;

At a rally in Fatehpur district, Rahul said the rose tainted picture painted by PM Modi in 2014 of bringing development to the state was a stark contrast to the scenario two-and-a-half years later. He used the example of blockbuster film &quot;Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge&quot; and dacoit Gabbar Singh to draw a comparison between the promises and the current situation in the state.

&quot;In 2014, Modiji had said that good days will come. He showed a Dilwale Dulhania picture, after two-and-a-half years Gabbar Singh has come to the state,&quot; Rahul Gandhi said. 
&nbsp; 
He alleged that PM Modi would use the money of the people deposited in banks to waive off loans of 50 families.&nbsp;

He also accused the prime minister of centralised rule, leaving his ministers like Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley without any work.

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Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi made their first joint appearance in Congress bastion Rae Bareli in the ongoing Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh elections (WION)
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&quot;Whatever Modiji does is on his own. He took away LK Advani&#39;s work. Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley have no work,&quot; the Congress leader alleged.

Later, at a rally in Rae Bareli, Rahul Gandhi accused PM Modi of snatching food park project from the constituency&nbsp;&quot;to take revenge&quot;. He said a rail factory had been put on hold in Rae Bareli, the&nbsp;Lok Sabha constituency of his mother, Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Rahul also criticised the prime minister for seeking votes in lieu of the loan waiver dole for farmers. 
 
&quot;When the UPA government was at the Centre, we were not in power in UP, but we waived off Rs 70,000 crore loans of farmers. Why can&#39;t Modi do it?,&quot; he said&nbsp;

Modiji has not fulfilled the promises made to the people of Varanasi -- of making a Bhojpuri film city and of cleaning up the Ganga river, he said.

&quot;Modiji was in Varanasi in 2014 where he coined a new slogan -- &#39;Ganga Maiyya&#39;, his mother -- and made a long list of promises, but nothing has happened there yet,&quot; he said while detailing how Modi during the 2014 polls had promised cleanliness in the temple town, clean Ghats, clean river, potable water to every household, free internet and much more.

He said that PM Modi thought of farmers only when elections were imminent. 
 
The Congress vice-president also slammed PM Modi over demonetisation and said it had caused significant damage to small businesses, shopkeepers and farmers.

Priyanka slams Modi over &quot;adopted son&quot;&nbsp;remark

Rahul&#39;s sister, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi slammed PM Modi over his &quot;adopted son of Uttar Pradesh&quot; remark made at a rally yesterday (February 16). She said the state did not need to adopt any one for its development.&nbsp;She said every youth of Uttar Pradesh could become a politician and develop the state.

&quot;Modi said UP has adopted him as a son. Does UP need to adopt anyone from outside for its development. UP doesn&#39;t need an &#39;adopted son&#39; to do good for the state. Rahul Gandhi (Congress Vice-President) and (Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister) Akhilesh ji (Yadav) are two sons of UP,&quot; Priyanka said at the constituency Maharaniganj in Rae Bareli. 
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PM ne kaha mujhe UP ne godh liya aur mein UP ka vikas karoonga. Kya UP ko vikas ke liye kisi ko godh lene ki zarurat hai?: Priyanka G Vadra <a href="https://t.co/e7MFAYZY9T">pic.twitter.com/e7MFAYZY9T</a>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/832553314315182081">February 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
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She alleged Modi had done nothing for his constituency Varanasi and accused him of making hollow promises.

Clamour for Priyanka Gandhi to campaign in Raebareli and in Amethi increased after incumbent Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav campaigned for Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate Devendra Pratap Singh against the Congress candidate Ashok Singh in Sereni on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Priyanka campaigned for the Congress in the ongoing Assembly elections after weeks of postponements.

The Congress leader was reportedly refraining from campaigning in UP since the seat-sharing formula between the Congress and the SP in these constituencies remained a grey area.

Since both the alliance partners have now withdrawn five candidates each from their side, Priyanka is said to have agreed to come and campaign.

She was reportedly a key negotiator with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav when the alliance talks were on the brink of collapse.&nbsp;

Central minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani had attacked Priyanka Gandhi yeasterday saying the Congress leader was not campaigning in Amethi as she could not face people&#39;s questions.

Rae Bareli goes to polls on February 23 and Amethi on February 27. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)

 
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Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi made their first joint appearance in Congress bastion Rae Bareli in the ongoing Assembly polls

Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi made their first joint appearance in Congress bastion Rae Bareli in the ongoing Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh elections. The Congress vice-president attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not fulfilling the promises made to the people of the state. At a rally in Fatehpur district, Rahul said the rose tainted picture painted by PM Modi in 2014 of bringing development to the state was a stark contrast to the scenario two-and-a-half years later. He used the example of blockbuster film "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" and dacoit Gabbar Singh to draw a comparison between the promises and the current situation in the state. "In 2014, Modiji had said that good days will come. He showed a Dilwale Dulhania picture, after two-and-a-half years Gabbar Singh has come to the state," Rahul Gandhi said. He alleged that PM Modi would use the money of the people deposited in banks to waive off loans of 50 families. He also accused the prime minister of centralised rule, leaving his ministers like Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley without any work. Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi made their first joint appearance in Congress bastion Rae Bareli in the ongoing Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh elections (WION) × "Whatever Modiji does is on his own. He took away LK Advani's work. Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley have no work," the Congress leader alleged. Later, at a rally in Rae Bareli, Rahul Gandhi accused PM Modi of snatching food park project from the constituency "to take revenge". He said a rail factory had been put on hold in Rae Bareli, the Lok Sabha constituency of his mother, Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Rahul also criticised the prime minister for seeking votes in lieu of the loan waiver dole for farmers. "When the UPA government was at the Centre, we were not in power in UP, but we waived off Rs 70,000 crore loans of farmers. Why can't Modi do it?," he said Modiji has not fulfilled the promises made to the people of Varanasi -- of making a Bhojpuri film city and of cleaning up the Ganga river, he said. "Modiji was in Varanasi in 2014 where he coined a new slogan -- 'Ganga Maiyya', his mother -- and made a long list of promises, but nothing has happened there yet," he said while detailing how Modi during the 2014 polls had promised cleanliness in the temple town, clean Ghats, clean river, potable water to every household, free internet and much more. He said that PM Modi thought of farmers only when elections were imminent. The Congress vice-president also slammed PM Modi over demonetisation and said it had caused significant damage to small businesses, shopkeepers and farmers. Priyanka slams Modi over "adopted son" remark Rahul's sister, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi slammed PM Modi over his "adopted son of Uttar Pradesh" remark made at a rally yesterday (February 16). She said the state did not need to adopt any one for its development. She said every youth of Uttar Pradesh could become a politician and develop the state. "Modi said UP has adopted him as a son. Does UP need to adopt anyone from outside for its development. UP doesn't need an 'adopted son' to do good for the state. Rahul Gandhi (Congress Vice-President) and (Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister) Akhilesh ji (Yadav) are two sons of UP," Priyanka said at the constituency Maharaniganj in Rae Bareli. PM ne kaha mujhe UP ne godh liya aur mein UP ka vikas karoonga. Kya UP ko vikas ke liye kisi ko godh lene ki zarurat hai?: Priyanka G Vadra pic.twitter.com/e7MFAYZY9T — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) February 17, 2017 × She alleged Modi had done nothing for his constituency Varanasi and accused him of making hollow promises. Clamour for Priyanka Gandhi to campaign in Raebareli and in Amethi increased after incumbent Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav campaigned for Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate Devendra Pratap Singh against the Congress candidate Ashok Singh in Sereni on Wednesday. Priyanka campaigned for the Congress in the ongoing Assembly elections after weeks of postponements. The Congress leader was reportedly refraining from campaigning in UP since the seat-sharing formula between the Congress and the SP in these constituencies remained a grey area. Since both the alliance partners have now withdrawn five candidates each from their side, Priyanka is said to have agreed to come and campaign. She was reportedly a key negotiator with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav when the alliance talks were on the brink of collapse. Central minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani had attacked Priyanka Gandhi yeasterday saying the Congress leader was not campaigning in Amethi as she could not face people's questions. Rae Bareli goes to polls on February 23 and Amethi on February 27. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Rahul invokes 'Dilwale Dulhania', dacoit Gabbar Singh to hit PM Modi

Human rights NGO Amnesty International released <a href="http://https://www.amnesty.org.in/pages/losing-faith-the-muzaffarnagar-gang-rape-survivors-struggle-for-justice">its report</a> on the 2013 gangrape in Muzaffarnagar today (February 9) asking the next government in the poll-bound state to ensure that the survivors get justice and investigations 
are not further delayed.

The report reveals that there has not been a single conviction in the cases of gangrape despite the&nbsp;government constituting a special team to investigate the cases. It also says two of the survivors were forced to change their statements.

&quot;The state government constituted a special team later in September 2013 to investigate the cases, and the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and the chief of the ruling Samajwadi Party promised swift justice.

The state government and successive central governments have also failed to adequately protect survivors from threats and harassment aimed at deterring them from pursuing their cases, and to provide adequate reparation to the survivors. Their failures continue to keep the survivors in a state of fear and insecurity, sceptical that they will ever get justice.

As state assembly elections commence in Uttar Pradesh, the gang-rapes of Muzaffarnagar and Shamli are at risk of becoming another forgotten human rights tragedy,&quot; the report states.

It accuses the state government of failing to protect women from threats and intimidation and of not informing them about the status of their cases.

In 2013, communal violence between Hindus and Muslims in and around Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts in Uttar Pradesh led to the deaths of over 60 people and the displacement of tens of thousands.&nbsp;

The report talks about the fact that thousands of Muslim families were forced to flee their homes and take shelter in relief camps and that scores of women spoke of having been assaulted, raped and gangraped. It states that out of the seven women who eventually came forward to report that they had been gangraped, none has received justice so far.

With the Uttar Pradesh elections around the corner, the NGO said the new state the government should ensure that those responsible for the crime are brought to justice and the survivors are provided with effective legal assistance and rehabilitation.

&quot;Ensure that the investigations and prosecutions into the gangrape cases are pursued vigorously without undue delay, and those responsible are brought to justice. Investigate reports of threats, intimidation or harassment of survivors or their relatives, and bring suspects to trial.

It has also recommended the Centre to enact a robust law to respond to communal violence and a comprehensive victim and witness protection program.

Activist-lawyer Vrinda Grover, who represented the victims in the Supreme Court, said this is the first case where section 376 (2)(g) (rape during communal or sectarian violence) of the Indian Penal Code has been invoked in 
the FIR since the law was amended.

&quot;State machinery is not working in favour of women victims. There was a deliberate design to not allow these cases to move forward. The delay was deliberate and this is an example of institutional complicity...The scenario is 
changing today as the rape survivor is standing against the wrong and demanding justice...

&quot;According to me, this is the most appropriate time to release the report because we are not here to listen to empty slogans by political parties. This is the time that they act speedily to give women their rights,&quot; she said.

(WION) 
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Communal violence between Hindus and Muslims led to the deaths of over 60 people and the displacement of tens of thousands

Human rights NGO Amnesty International released its report on the 2013 gangrape in Muzaffarnagar today (February 9) asking the next government in the poll-bound state to ensure that the survivors get justice and investigations are not further delayed. The report reveals that there has not been a single conviction in the cases of gangrape despite the government constituting a special team to investigate the cases. It also says two of the survivors were forced to change their statements. "The state government constituted a special team later in September 2013 to investigate the cases, and the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and the chief of the ruling Samajwadi Party promised swift justice. The state government and successive central governments have also failed to adequately protect survivors from threats and harassment aimed at deterring them from pursuing their cases, and to provide adequate reparation to the survivors. Their failures continue to keep the survivors in a state of fear and insecurity, sceptical that they will ever get justice. As state assembly elections commence in Uttar Pradesh, the gang-rapes of Muzaffarnagar and Shamli are at risk of becoming another forgotten human rights tragedy," the report states. It accuses the state government of failing to protect women from threats and intimidation and of not informing them about the status of their cases. In 2013, communal violence between Hindus and Muslims in and around Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts in Uttar Pradesh led to the deaths of over 60 people and the displacement of tens of thousands. The report talks about the fact that thousands of Muslim families were forced to flee their homes and take shelter in relief camps and that scores of women spoke of having been assaulted, raped and gangraped. It states that out of the seven women who eventually came forward to report that they had been gangraped, none has received justice so far. With the Uttar Pradesh elections around the corner, the NGO said the new state the government should ensure that those responsible for the crime are brought to justice and the survivors are provided with effective legal assistance and rehabilitation. "Ensure that the investigations and prosecutions into the gangrape cases are pursued vigorously without undue delay, and those responsible are brought to justice. Investigate reports of threats, intimidation or harassment of survivors or their relatives, and bring suspects to trial. It has also recommended the Centre to enact a robust law to respond to communal violence and a comprehensive victim and witness protection program. Activist-lawyer Vrinda Grover, who represented the victims in the Supreme Court, said this is the first case where section 376 (2)(g) (rape during communal or sectarian violence) of the Indian Penal Code has been invoked in the FIR since the law was amended. "State machinery is not working in favour of women victims. There was a deliberate design to not allow these cases to move forward. The delay was deliberate and this is an example of institutional complicity...The scenario is changing today as the rape survivor is standing against the wrong and demanding justice... "According to me, this is the most appropriate time to release the report because we are not here to listen to empty slogans by political parties. This is the time that they act speedily to give women their rights," she said. (WION)

Central, state government failed 2013 Muzaffarnagar gang-rape survivors: Amnesty report

India&#39;s Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on Uttar Pradesh&#39;s ruling Samajwadi Party(SP) during an election rally in Uttar Pradesh&#39;s Ghaziabad district.

The Indian prime minister attacked the Akhilesh Yadav government over the law and order situation in the state and the constant infighting within the ruling party.

&quot;Girls are afraid of going to school. Your Samajwadi Party (SP) is harbouring goons and they are responsible for this condition of Uttar Pradesh (UP),&quot; PM Modi said while addressing an election rally in UP&#39;s Ghaziabad.

Uttar Pradesh will go to the polls on February 11 in the first phase of polls, in a long drawn seven-phase polling schedule set to culminate with results set to be announced on 11th March. Political pundits&nbsp;believe BJP will win a&nbsp;majority of seats in the assembly but the recent Congress-Samajwadi Party coalition may unsettle their plans to come to power.

PM Modi said rapes and murders were unaccounted for in the state and the Samajwadi Party was neither &quot;worried, nor did it consider it their responsibility to tackle the situation&quot;.

&quot;Today, in Uttar Pradesh, after the sun sets a woman cannot step outside confidently on the streets as they are not safe in the state,&quot; PM Modi asserted.

He also blamed the SP and the Mayawati-led BSP for the lack of development in the state.&nbsp;&quot;Development has gone to &#39;exile&#39; for the last 14 years in the state, this election is about bringing development back,&quot; he said.

&quot;After Bharatiya Janata Party comes to power, we will form a special task force against land mafia. Then we will give back land to the poor and middle class people,&quot; said Modi.

The PM said the politically-crucial state could become the country&#39;s &quot;best state&quot; (Uttam Pradesh) &nbsp;if people chose the right government, alluding to his party, the BJP.

&quot;Nowadays, I am listening to speeches. They abuse the federal government for five minutes. Can you give me an account of your achievements as well,&quot; the prime minister said pointing to the opposition.

&quot;If Bharatiya Janata Party assumes power in Uttar Pradesh we will scrutinise the scams in employment sector and will give jobs to unemployed people,&quot; he said.

Blaming the Samajwadi Party for the lack of development in Uttar Pradesh, Modi said Akhilesh Yadav had &quot;destroyed the state in the last five years&quot;.

&quot;The Samajwadi Party, which has been in power for last five years, it is their duty to answer the people of Uttar Pradesh about the work they have done,&quot; India&#39;s prime minister said.

&quot;When Akhilesh Yadav became Chief Minister, we thought there would be development in the state since he is young and highly educated, but he destroyed the state in five years,&quot; Modi said.

&quot;Due to selfish politics, poor are not getting food even twice a day. Even that does not seem to have had any impact on the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government,&quot; Modi added.

The PM said the objective in the upcoming state assembly election was to bring development in the state.&nbsp;

He also said he would give an account of my achievements in the 2019 general elections.

&quot;Akhilesh is so scared, he has embraced whoever he came across. Who steps in a sinking boat,&quot; Modi sarcastically remarked referring to SP&#39;s alliance with the Congress for the assembly elections in the state.

Modi also took pot-shots at Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, son of SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav, blaming him for the split in the party.&nbsp;

&quot;What have you done to your father (Mulayam Singh Yadav), uncle (Shivpal Yadav) and the daughter-in-laws, nephews and brothers in your family, the people know everything,&quot; he said.

(WION with agency inputs) 
&nbsp;

PM Modi attacked the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party at an election rally in Ghaziabad

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on Uttar Pradesh's ruling Samajwadi Party(SP) during an election rally in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad district. The Indian prime minister attacked the Akhilesh Yadav government over the law and order situation in the state and the constant infighting within the ruling party. "Girls are afraid of going to school. Your Samajwadi Party (SP) is harbouring goons and they are responsible for this condition of Uttar Pradesh (UP)," PM Modi said while addressing an election rally in UP's Ghaziabad. Uttar Pradesh will go to the polls on February 11 in the first phase of polls, in a long drawn seven-phase polling schedule set to culminate with results set to be announced on 11th March. Political pundits believe BJP will win a majority of seats in the assembly but the recent Congress-Samajwadi Party coalition may unsettle their plans to come to power. PM Modi said rapes and murders were unaccounted for in the state and the Samajwadi Party was neither "worried, nor did it consider it their responsibility to tackle the situation". "Today, in Uttar Pradesh, after the sun sets a woman cannot step outside confidently on the streets as they are not safe in the state," PM Modi asserted. He also blamed the SP and the Mayawati-led BSP for the lack of development in the state. "Development has gone to 'exile' for the last 14 years in the state, this election is about bringing development back," he said. "After Bharatiya Janata Party comes to power, we will form a special task force against land mafia. Then we will give back land to the poor and middle class people," said Modi. The PM said the politically-crucial state could become the country's "best state" (Uttam Pradesh) if people chose the right government, alluding to his party, the BJP. "Nowadays, I am listening to speeches. They abuse the federal government for five minutes. Can you give me an account of your achievements as well," the prime minister said pointing to the opposition. "If Bharatiya Janata Party assumes power in Uttar Pradesh we will scrutinise the scams in employment sector and will give jobs to unemployed people," he said. Blaming the Samajwadi Party for the lack of development in Uttar Pradesh, Modi said Akhilesh Yadav had "destroyed the state in the last five years". "The Samajwadi Party, which has been in power for last five years, it is their duty to answer the people of Uttar Pradesh about the work they have done," India's prime minister said. "When Akhilesh Yadav became Chief Minister, we thought there would be development in the state since he is young and highly educated, but he destroyed the state in five years," Modi said. "Due to selfish politics, poor are not getting food even twice a day. Even that does not seem to have had any impact on the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government," Modi added. The PM said the objective in the upcoming state assembly election was to bring development in the state. He also said he would give an account of my achievements in the 2019 general elections. "Akhilesh is so scared, he has embraced whoever he came across. Who steps in a sinking boat," Modi sarcastically remarked referring to SP's alliance with the Congress for the assembly elections in the state. Modi also took pot-shots at Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, son of SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav, blaming him for the split in the party. "What have you done to your father (Mulayam Singh Yadav), uncle (Shivpal Yadav) and the daughter-in-laws, nephews and brothers in your family, the people know everything," he said. (WION with agency inputs)

Development on 'exile' in UP for 14 years: Modi

Akhilesh Yadav&#39;s uncle Ramgopal Yadav filed the caveat in the Supreme Court of India, prempting Akhilesh&#39;s father and SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav in case he decides to challenge the Election Commission order.

A day after India&#39;s Election Commission granted the disputed &#39;cycle&#39; symbol of the Samajwadi Party (SP) to Akhilesh Yadav, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister visited his father and SP founder Mulayam Singh at his residence, describing his ties with him as &quot;unbreakable.&quot;

Akhilesh, who was reportedly given a list of about 40 candidates by Mulayam Singh, said over 90 per cent of the candidates in both lists were common. He said his priority was to form the SP government in the upcoming assembly elections in the state and that he would take his father along.

&quot;I will take Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) along...My relation with him is unbreakable. I was confident that I will get cycle (symbol). Little time is left. It&#39;s a big responsibility and I will take everyone with us,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

&quot;Over 90 per cent candidates in both the lists are common. We will finalise the list of candidates soon,&quot; Akhilesh told reporters during an informal chat at his Kalidas Marg residence in state capital Lucknow.

However, the Akhilesh faction led by his mentor and uncle Ramgopal Yadav filed a caveat in the top court asking it not to pass any order challenging the Election Commission order without hearing their side.

The Uttar Pradesh chief minister also went into a huddle with his advisors, including Upper House legislators Ramgopal Yadav and Naresh Agarwal, strategising on an alliance with Congress, RLD and JD(U) for the upcoming assembly elections in the state.

SP sources said the list of party candidates will be released in a day or two.

There were reports that the three parties could come out with a common minimum programme.

While Akhilesh said in Lucknow that a decision on the alliance will be made in a day or two, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad confirmed his party would ally with the SP in the upcoming UP elections.&nbsp;

&quot;The decision on alliance (with Congress) will be taken in a day or two,&quot; Akhilesh told journalists in Lucknow. His uncle and party strategist Ramgopal Yadav hoped a grand secular alliance would be in place for polls.&nbsp;

&quot;I am confident that the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance will form the next government in Uttar Pradesh,&quot; All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad told the press in New Delhi.

Party coordinator for UP Meem Afzal said, &quot;Congress will have an alliance with Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh. The details of the arrangement will be announced in the next two days.&quot;

The Congress is yet to officially announce the SP alliance and seat-sharing agreement although an announcement is expected soon. Congress leader Sheila Dikshit, had earlier said that she would withdraw as the Congress&#39; chief ministerial candidate if her party enters into an alliance with the Samajwadi Party in the state.

The poll process kicked off today with a notification being issued for the first phase of polling on February 11.

Before the poll panel settled the dispute between the warring factions in Akhilesh&#39;s favour, Mulayam had rejected all suggestions of a tie-up with the Congress despite Akhilesh saying that an alliance between the two could fetch 300 of the state&#39;s 403 seats.

According to SP sources, the party will keep the majority of over 250 seats with itself. Congress was being offered around 90-100 seats by the SP, which was also said to be trying to rope in Ajit Singh&#39;s RLD. Rashtriya Lok Dal has pockets of influence in western UP which goes to polls in the first two phases on February 11 and 15.

Ramgopal Yadav and Ghulam Nabi Azad are reportedly in talks to iron out differences over seat sharing between the two parties.

Party sources said the list would be prepared keeping in mind the possible alliance with Congress as nomination for first phase has already begun.

Mulayam Singh, meanwhile, stayed put at his bungalow, hardly a stone&#39;s throw away from that of Akhilesh. Shivpal Yadav and a few other loyalists like Ambika Chowdhury met him during the day.

(WION with inputs from PTI)

Akhilesh, who was reportedly given a list of about 40 candidates by Mulayam Singh, said over 90% of the candidates in both lists were common

Akhilesh Yadav's uncle Ramgopal Yadav filed the caveat in the Supreme Court of India, prempting Akhilesh's father and SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav in case he decides to challenge the Election Commission order. A day after India's Election Commission granted the disputed 'cycle' symbol of the Samajwadi Party (SP) to Akhilesh Yadav, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister visited his father and SP founder Mulayam Singh at his residence, describing his ties with him as "unbreakable." Akhilesh, who was reportedly given a list of about 40 candidates by Mulayam Singh, said over 90 per cent of the candidates in both lists were common. He said his priority was to form the SP government in the upcoming assembly elections in the state and that he would take his father along. "I will take Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) along...My relation with him is unbreakable. I was confident that I will get cycle (symbol). Little time is left. It's a big responsibility and I will take everyone with us," he said. "Over 90 per cent candidates in both the lists are common. We will finalise the list of candidates soon," Akhilesh told reporters during an informal chat at his Kalidas Marg residence in state capital Lucknow. However, the Akhilesh faction led by his mentor and uncle Ramgopal Yadav filed a caveat in the top court asking it not to pass any order challenging the Election Commission order without hearing their side. The Uttar Pradesh chief minister also went into a huddle with his advisors, including Upper House legislators Ramgopal Yadav and Naresh Agarwal, strategising on an alliance with Congress, RLD and JD(U) for the upcoming assembly elections in the state. SP sources said the list of party candidates will be released in a day or two. There were reports that the three parties could come out with a common minimum programme. While Akhilesh said in Lucknow that a decision on the alliance will be made in a day or two, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad confirmed his party would ally with the SP in the upcoming UP elections. "The decision on alliance (with Congress) will be taken in a day or two," Akhilesh told journalists in Lucknow. His uncle and party strategist Ramgopal Yadav hoped a grand secular alliance would be in place for polls. "I am confident that the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance will form the next government in Uttar Pradesh," All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad told the press in New Delhi. Party coordinator for UP Meem Afzal said, "Congress will have an alliance with Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh. The details of the arrangement will be announced in the next two days." The Congress is yet to officially announce the SP alliance and seat-sharing agreement although an announcement is expected soon. Congress leader Sheila Dikshit, had earlier said that she would withdraw as the Congress' chief ministerial candidate if her party enters into an alliance with the Samajwadi Party in the state. The poll process kicked off today with a notification being issued for the first phase of polling on February 11. Before the poll panel settled the dispute between the warring factions in Akhilesh's favour, Mulayam had rejected all suggestions of a tie-up with the Congress despite Akhilesh saying that an alliance between the two could fetch 300 of the state's 403 seats. According to SP sources, the party will keep the majority of over 250 seats with itself. Congress was being offered around 90-100 seats by the SP, which was also said to be trying to rope in Ajit Singh's RLD. Rashtriya Lok Dal has pockets of influence in western UP which goes to polls in the first two phases on February 11 and 15. Ramgopal Yadav and Ghulam Nabi Azad are reportedly in talks to iron out differences over seat sharing between the two parties. Party sources said the list would be prepared keeping in mind the possible alliance with Congress as nomination for first phase has already begun. Mulayam Singh, meanwhile, stayed put at his bungalow, hardly a stone's throw away from that of Akhilesh. Shivpal Yadav and a few other loyalists like Ambika Chowdhury met him during the day. (WION with inputs from PTI)

Ties with Mulayam Singh unbreakable, will take him along: Akhilesh's olive branch to father ahead of polls

India&#39;s Congress party vice-president Rahul Gandhi is all set to go in for a major image makeover. His month-long campaign in Uttar Pradesh on farmer&rsquo;s debt intends to recraft his image from a 10 am to 6 pm politician into a full time 24x7 political actor. 
 
Sources inside his campaign team confirmed to WION that Rahul Gandhi during the course of his campaign, will not return to Delhi even once. &ldquo;The idea is to blunt BJP&rsquo;s charge that Rahul Gandhi jumps from one issue to another. He will stick to one issue for an entire month and that being that the Centre should waive off farmer&rsquo;s debt in Uttar Pradesh,&rdquo; a source said. 
&nbsp; 
In another first, Rahul Gandhi will himself be a part of a door-to-door campaign which is a first for any member of the Gandhi family after India&#39;s first woman PM, Indira Gandhi. 
 
The Congress intends to target 20 million households in this door-to-door campaign for which 2,50,000 workers have been identified. 
 
The identified workers would concentrate on 25,000 blocks selected by the Congress Party. Rahul Gandhi himself would cover 2,500 km. 
 
The unique feature of the campaign would be that every targeted household will get a receipt from Congress after getting the pledge signed that if they come back to power then Congress would waive off farmer&rsquo;s loans and half the electricity tariff for the agrarian sector. Rahul Gandhi will come back to Delhi once the targets have been met and the receipts collected. 
&nbsp; 
The Congress vice-president will cover 55 Lok Sabha constituencies and 225 assembly segments in this phase. Rahul will clock 11 hours every day that he spends in Uttar Pradesh. His meetings would start at 10.30 am every day and would only end at 9.30 pm at night. 
&nbsp; 
The Congress&#39;s campaign manager Prashant Kishore has also taken a leaf out of his old strategy. The missed-call campaign will be deployed for Rahul Gandhi in Uttar Pradesh. The number would be advertised and anyone who gives a missed call would get connected to a recorded message of Rahul Gandhi on the farmer&rsquo;s issue. 
&nbsp; 
Other parties, however, remain unimpressed. BJP spokesperson Sudesh Verma says that the Congress is neither a force nor an alternative in UP. 
 
&ldquo;Mayawati is the only option to the Samajwadi Party,&rdquo; adds BSP&rsquo;s Sudhindra Bhaduria.&nbsp; 
 
Even the Congress understands that it stands 4th in the race and even after the Bhatta Parsaul pad yatra and a campaign based around the farmers&#39; issue in the UP assembly elections in 2012, the party came a miserable fourth. Even then Rahul Gandhi had invested a lot of time in Uttar Pradesh.&nbsp; 
 
The Congress disagrees. &ldquo;Our support to loan-waiver issue remains despite our electoral reverses,&rdquo; said Congress spokesperson RPN Singh. 
&nbsp; 
(WION) 
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Rahul Gandhi intends to target 20 million households in a massive door-to-door campaign ahead of the country's largest state polls

India's Congress party vice-president Rahul Gandhi is all set to go in for a major image makeover. His month-long campaign in Uttar Pradesh on farmer’s debt intends to recraft his image from a 10 am to 6 pm politician into a full time 24x7 political actor. Sources inside his campaign team confirmed to WION that Rahul Gandhi during the course of his campaign, will not return to Delhi even once. “The idea is to blunt BJP’s charge that Rahul Gandhi jumps from one issue to another. He will stick to one issue for an entire month and that being that the Centre should waive off farmer’s debt in Uttar Pradesh,” a source said. In another first, Rahul Gandhi will himself be a part of a door-to-door campaign which is a first for any member of the Gandhi family after India's first woman PM, Indira Gandhi. The Congress intends to target 20 million households in this door-to-door campaign for which 2,50,000 workers have been identified. The identified workers would concentrate on 25,000 blocks selected by the Congress Party. Rahul Gandhi himself would cover 2,500 km. The unique feature of the campaign would be that every targeted household will get a receipt from Congress after getting the pledge signed that if they come back to power then Congress would waive off farmer’s loans and half the electricity tariff for the agrarian sector. Rahul Gandhi will come back to Delhi once the targets have been met and the receipts collected. The Congress vice-president will cover 55 Lok Sabha constituencies and 225 assembly segments in this phase. Rahul will clock 11 hours every day that he spends in Uttar Pradesh. His meetings would start at 10.30 am every day and would only end at 9.30 pm at night. The Congress's campaign manager Prashant Kishore has also taken a leaf out of his old strategy. The missed-call campaign will be deployed for Rahul Gandhi in Uttar Pradesh. The number would be advertised and anyone who gives a missed call would get connected to a recorded message of Rahul Gandhi on the farmer’s issue. Other parties, however, remain unimpressed. BJP spokesperson Sudesh Verma says that the Congress is neither a force nor an alternative in UP. “Mayawati is the only option to the Samajwadi Party,” adds BSP’s Sudhindra Bhaduria. Even the Congress understands that it stands 4th in the race and even after the Bhatta Parsaul pad yatra and a campaign based around the farmers' issue in the UP assembly elections in 2012, the party came a miserable fourth. Even then Rahul Gandhi had invested a lot of time in Uttar Pradesh. The Congress disagrees. “Our support to loan-waiver issue remains despite our electoral reverses,” said Congress spokesperson RPN Singh. (WION)

India's Congress party scion to visit voters at home to revive political fortunes

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