Holding the Samajwadi Party Government in Uttar Pradesh and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre responsible for the recent violence in Mathura, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Thursday alleged that both parties were insensitive on this matter with least interest in ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
Advertisement
Names of other BJP leaders like Varun Gandhi, Yogi Adityanath and K P Maurya are also being speculated for the party’s face in 2017 Assembly elections. “Whatever support is sought is extended to Uttar Pradesh”, he said.
The importance being given to Uttar Pradesh by BJP can be understood from the fact that this will be Modi’s 11th visit to the state in the last one year.
“The BJP will win here with clear majority and form the government”, he added. The celebrations were held in Sharanpur where Modi addressed a public meeting on 26 May.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday lost temper and shouted reportedly threatened to slap the crowd, who kept interrupting his speech. The assembly polls in the state are scheduled to be held early next year. Mr Singh, who has been chief minister of UP before, is not keen to essay that role again, sources said.
Advertisement
He also questioned how the state government was unaware of land grab by thousands of people. The top party leaders, however, have maintained a studied silence over the issue. However, it is nearly certain that he will play a prominent role during the campaign. “The revolt might not have taken place had the central leadership not mismanaged the party unit in Uttar Pradesh where aspirations of several leaders have risen after the party’s victory in Assam”. The change in strategy will be interesting because the BJP joined hands with Apna Dal, an eastern Uttar Pradesh-based regional party, during the Lok Sabha elections in 2014.
