PM: BJP is leading in 1st phase of UP polls
KASGANJ: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday claimed that the Opposition parties’ attempts to divide the people on caste lines have failed as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is leading in the recently-concluded first phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
The first phase of the UP elections began on Thursday, as voting took place in 58 constituencies in the western part of the state.
Addressing a public meeting in Kasganj, which will vote in the third phase of the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections on February 20, PM Modi told news agency ANI, “They tried a lot to divide you on the name of caste but they failed completely as you were united.”
Hitting out at the Opposition further, the Prime Minister said that “ghor-parivaarwadi” people have come to know that their boat has sunk and so they have started raising questions over the EVM and election commission.
“Yesterday, the first phase of voting was completed. The people voted for the BJP in large numbers for the security and development of Uttar Pradesh. Especially the women have voted in large numbers. The BJP is leading in the first phase of elections, according to the leads. The “Ghor-parivaarwadi” people have also come to know that the boat has sunk. That is why they have started raising questions over the EVM and the election commission. The people do not want to accept you. They do not want ‘gundaraj’,” he told ANI.
As the first phase of the 403member Uttar Pradesh Assembly concluded on Thursday, the voter turnout for the Jat-dominant belt of western Uttar Pradesh was recorded to be nearly 60 per cent.
As per the Election Commission of India’s Voter Turnout application, the total voter turnout for the first phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections was 59.87 per cent at the end of the session.
Post the completion of the seven phased elections, the counting of votes will take place on March 10.
He also hailed chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s decision to name a ‘chowk’ in Ayodhya after Bharat Ratna singer Lata Mangeshkar and said that devotees visiting the Ram Mandir will cross this chowk, recall her ‘bhajans’ and feel proud.
“Lata Mangeshkar is the daughter of Goa, a devotee of Ram. Yogi ji announced to name the chowk after her in Ayodhya. Whosoever will come to visit the Ram Mandir, will cross from here, remember her ‘bhajans’ and be proud of her,” he said.
“I congratulate CM Yogi on setting up Lata Mangeshkar Academy for music at Film City to give the youth an opportunity in the film industry,” he added.
Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar passed away on Sunday at the age of 92. She had been admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy hospital on January 8 after being diagnosed with Covid-19 and pneumonia. The last rites with full State honours were performed on Sunday at Shivaji Park in Mumbai.
Kasganj is a crucial seat in the elections. Since the 1977 elections in Uttar Pradesh, BJP has won four times and Samajwadi Party two times from the constituency.
There are 715 villages, 10 municipal corporations in Kasganj. According to the last Census, the population is 14,36,719 and has a 61 per cent literacy rate.
In 2018, Kasganj was the epicentre of a riot where a tiff between two groups over giving passage to a Tiranga Yatra on January 26 led to loss of life and property, people belonging to different sections have contrasting views of the law and order situation.
Uttar Pradesh, the country’s most populous state, will vote in seven phases, with the last round of polling to be held on March 7. Uttarakhand will poll in a single phase, on February 14, as will Goa.
Electors in Punjab will also cast their votes in a single phase, on February 20, while Manipur will hold elections on February 28 and March 5. The counting of votes for all five states will be conducted on March 10.
Of the five states, the BJP is in power in four; Punjab has a Congress government.