BJP wants civic poll wins to resonate in UP
ON A HIGH To showcase victories in Maha and Odisha, party to mark Vijay Diwas today
NEWDELHI: The BJP is planning to showcase Odisha and Maharashtracivicpollvictories asthe endorsement of Narendra Modi government’s pro-poor policies and support for the government’s demonetisation move.
The party plans to observe Vijay Diwas in each district headquarters across the country on Saturday (February 25). This comes at a time when Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, is voting to elect a new government. The BJP is expecting to benefit from the positive sentiment playing out in Odisha and Maharashtra.“It has been a great start to 2017! First the unprecedented support in Odisha & now the overwhelming blessings from people of Maharashtra,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.
“I thank each & every Indian for continuously placing their faith in the BJP. We are working determinately to create a strong & inclusive India,” he said.
Meanwhile, at an election rally in Gonda, Modi said the Congress has been wiped out in Maharashtra and the BJP gained in Odisha, a state battling poverty, starvation and unemployment where the party did not have foothold. “Be it civic body polls in Odisha, Maharashtra, Chandigarh or panchayat polls in Gujarat, in three months wherever there were polls, whether the BJP had any presence or not, people used their third eye and ensured its victory. This means that my responsibility has increased," he said.
The BJP saw many victories in 2017, including in Chandigarh civic polls, but the Odisha and Maharashtra are really special for the saffron party. It has been a distant third force in the eastern state, which has a large population of tribals and the under privileged. As many as 852 panchayat seats in Odisha went to polls this month, the results for which will be officially declared on Saturday. Unofficial figures though hint at a near 10 fold increase in the BJP’s tally from 36 last time to over 300 in the just concluded elections.
“After demonetisation there has been a change in the country. BJP has won all elections after November 8 (the day note ban was announced),” Petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan said.