UTTAR PRADESH: QUOTABLE QUOTES FROM THE CAMPAIGN THAT WAS

Narendra Modi: “Being raised in a poor family, I am aware of the hardships the poor face. We would take every step that uplifts them. I have a dream of doubling farmer incomes by 2022. We have brought the Soil Health Card. We are training our farmers using scientific farming methods. The UP government is anti-farmer. Why is it that farmers don’t benefit from the Fasal Bima Yojana? Why do they don’t help farmers in distress? We want poor households to have access to clean fuel. We aim to provide five crore families with LPG connections in 3 years.”

Rahul Gandhi: “I told Akhilesh that we must extend some help to Modiji. Let’s give him some time... some moments of peace. You (Akhilesh) become the chief minister, and he (Modi) would get some rest… Repeated retakes of Modiji’s film are taking place. In four days, there have been four retakes… two days ago there was a roadshow, it did not yield desirable results. Then there was a roadshow yesterday, it too did not result in anything positive. I heard that today Modiji is walking on foot.”

Akhilesh Yadav: “Who will believe such a leader who created her own statues across the state?... Beware of my bua (aunt), she could join hands with the BJP at any time. Buaji says she would prefer to sit in the Opposition rather than join hands with the BJP. Don’t forget: She celebrated Rakshabandhan with the BJP once and she can do it again.”

Mayawati: “In 1989 Lok Sabha elections, when Congress lost power and I was elected to Lok Sabha, V P Singh became the PM. He said BSP should also support us. I told him my two conditions. First, B R Ambedkar be awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously and second, adopt the Mandal Commission report. The BJP then staged mass protests against B R Ambedkar’s Bharat Ratna and against reservations for backward classes. I don’t think UP will vote for such a party.”