Rajnath strikes a chord with Lucknow audience
Before leaving for his day-long campaign trail from Choudhury Charan Singh airport here, Union home minister Rajnath Singh had a chance meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was heading towards Kannauj, the parliamentary constituency of Dimple Yadav, wife of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav.
They briefly discussed Nagaland developments and party’s prospects in UP. Rajnath Singh, who along with Modi and BJP president Amit Shah is shouldering major responsibility to end party’s 14-year-long exile from power in UP, exuded confidence and said, “We are heading for absolute majority.”
It is, however, easier said than done even though winning UP is crucial to BJP’s national plans.
Singh has over 100 meetings lined up till the last phase of elections. But today’s rallies were particularly crucial as they were held in the assembly segments of his Lok Sabha constituency Lucknow. Winning all of them obviously is a prestige issue for him.
The Union home minister started the day from Haidergarh in Barabanki , which had elected him to the Vidhan Sabha twice after he had become chief minister. He grew nostalgic while addressing the crowds. He invoked patriotism by dramatically referring to the surgical strikes and his visit to Pakistan. Evidently not sure if it could fetch votes in the polls, he skirted the issue of demonetisation.
However, in all his speeches — Bakshi Ka Talab, Sarojininagar, Rajajipuram, Gomti Nagar and even Mohanlalganj, from where alliance partner RK Choudhary of RSP is contesting — Rajnath was both articulate and forceful.
While highlighting the clean image of union ministers and former chief ministers of UP, he wanted to know from the crowds, “How can anyone with corruption charges demand support in elections and seek votes. I would prefer to quit politics if I ever have such a blot.” Applause followed.
Then he told the BJP candidates not to make promises but seek blessings of the people in elections and went on to remind them the work he had done for the state and the farmers as the chief minister and the Union agriculture minister.
“Mein aankhon mein ankhen dal kar rajniti karta hun, na ke aankhon mein dhul jhonkar”( I do bold and forthright politics, I do not engage in politics of deceit). His words again drew overwhelming applause.
Without taking name of Rahul Gandhi, he asked people if they had heard of a Congress leader who had done some innovative public meetings called the ‘khat sabhas’. Taking a dig at Akhilesh, he said, “The CM has already accepted that his party is weak. How can he sail the turbulent waters with the help of a dying Congress.”