BJP to play down note ban in Uttar Pradesh?

New Delhi: Apprehending that the poll battle is going could be tough in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP is trying to play down the Modi government’s demonetisation decision during campaigning in state. Opponents are slamming the Centre and the BJP over the hardship faced by the people post-demonetisation, with BSP’s Mayawati making it one of the main poll planks. With the saffron party deciding not to project any chief ministerial candidate and bank on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity and the Central government’s people-centric schemes, the BJP poll managers also want to make it sure that poll results do not appear to be a referendum on the demonetisation, the latest decision taken by the Modi government. Therefore, party leaders have been asked that “good governance,”, “development,” and “people-centric Central government schemes” should be the main highlight of their campaigning. They have also been asked to highlight state specific issues like corruption, deteriorating law and order and falling development indicators as main highlights during campaigning.

Though many BJP leaders sounded confident that the party is all set to end its 14-year-long “vanvaas” in this politically crucial state, they, however, did not agree that UP poll result would be a referendum on the Modi government’s decision, in particular the demonetisation. The BJP is also of the view that family feud in the SP clan will benefit it and that dalits is left disillusioned with the BSP amid allegations of corruption. Taking a dig at the UP CM’s anointment as SP chief, the BJP said it amounted to removal of an “authorised” president by an “unauthorised” chief.

“In our society, father has the right to write a will, not the son... It amounts to removal of an authorised president by an unauthorised chief,” BJP general secretary Bhupender Yadav said.

BJP believes that the “forced removal” of Mulayam Singh Yadav may go against Akhilesh Yadav, who is banking on his “clean image” to return to power in the upcoming Assembly elections.

Claiming that poll atmosphere is in his party’s favour in the state, the BJP said the four ‘Parivartan Yatras’, that had started on November 5 and travelled over 17000 kilometers, have helped build support for it.