Amit Shah says SP is main rival in Uttar Pradesh

It’s not dalit queen Mayawati, but Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son Akhilesh-led Samajwadi Party that the BJP is wary of. For the upcoming electoral battle in Uttar Pradesh, BJP president Amit Shah feels that the SP is going to be enemy number one. He argued that the SP has a strong organisation machinery and cadre base. Dismissing reports that UP was going to be a tough state to win, Mr Shah felt that unlike Assam, the Hindi heartland was far more “easy”. He pointed out that the BJP has been working there for years and has a grassroots presence.

Claiming that the BJP was going to win UP, Mr Shah felt that Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s move to influence Kurmi votes in the state would only benefit the BJP as it would “split the secular vote”.

Mr Shah, while distancing from party MP Subramanian Swamy’s remarks against RBI governor Raghuram Rajan, said, “What I say is the party line.”

He refuted reports that Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel would be removed. For him, there has not been any discussion in the party over the issue. He did not think that the BJP had damaged its image in Uttarakhand and claimed that riding on the anti-incumbency wave the party will win the state next year.