BJP will win 325 seats in 2022 UP Assembly elections: CM Yogi

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has spoken exclusively to Times Now Navbharat ahead of the UP Legislative Assembly Elections 2022. In an interview with Times Now Navbharat Consulting Editor Sushant Sinha that took place mid-air during a chartered flight to Saharanpur for a foundation-laying programme, CM Yogi said the BJP will return to power in the country’s most populous state in the elections early next year.

“The BJP will be able to secure a landslide victory in the next elections due to its work and achievement and the BJP will again form the government in the state. There should not be any doubts regarding that,” the BJP leader said. Asked to give a figure, Yogi said the ruling party would win at least 325 of the total 403 seats in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly.

He said the BJP government has shown in the past five years how Uttar Pradesh should be run.

“We have seen in the last five years in Uttar Pradesh how a government should function, how the benefits of the government’s policies should reach all sections of the society without any discrimination.

“How the law and order situation should be in the state, the BJP government has shown. What are the benefits of having a double-engine government, the Modi government at the Centre and the Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh have shown in an ideal manner,” the CM said.

Yogi said his government will seek votes from the people based on the achievements of the government.  

“People across villages say they are getting ration, LPG cylinder, electricity, connectivity has improved, education facilities have improved etc. These are all the achievements of the Uttar Pradesh government. We will seek mandate from the people based on these achievements,” the BJP leader stated.

‘India’s image has improved’

The UP CM lauded the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for enhancing India's image as an upcoming superpower globally.

"PM Modi's agenda is clear - nation first and to present India as one of the superpowers. India's image has improved and confidence has grown in the country over the last 6-7 years. Today, under PM Modi's leadership, the vision of safe and developed India is being realised. And this can be achieved when all states also work with an honest intention," he stated.

‘Not afraid of crowd at Akhilesh’s rallies’

To a question on massive turnout at opposition leaders like Akhilesh Yadav's rallies, the UP CM said there is a difference between the presence of crowd at a roadside event, at an exhibition or at a market from the presence of crowd at a political function.

“The characters of the two are different. The voluntary presence of people at a function of the ruling BJP shows the confidence and faith in the government. The people, on the other hand, gather at the Samajwadi Party's function to watch their tamasha and character, what they used to say and do before 2017 and what they are saying today. We are not afraid of the presence of crowd at their rallies,” Yogi said.

When asked to comment on opposition leaders like Akhilesh Yadav and Jayant Chaudhary of RLD coming together ahead of the election, Yogi said “two boys had formed an alliance in 2017 and bhai-behan had joined hands in 2014 - both were rejected by the people then. The people had also rejected the Mahagathbandhan in 2019. There is no alliance in Uttar Pradesh now.”

Is western UP unhappy with BJP? Yogi has this to say

On a question whether the people of western Uttar Pradesh are unhappy with the BJP, in part due to the farmers' agitation, Yogi said western Uttar Pradesh prior to 2017 was facing severe security crisis.

“There were around 300 riots between 2012 and 2017. And most of these took place in western Uttar Pradesh. The entire scenario has changed after our government came to power in 2017. We have provided security to every citizen, there has been no riot, all festivals are being celebrated peacefully now,” he said in an assuring tone. “The people are forced to think that if Samajwadi Party returns to power, then will riots also make a comeback.”

CM Yogi alleged that during the Muzaffarnagar and other riots, the government was standing with the rioters and the people were troubled.

As far as farmers are concerned, Yogi said, it was after the coming to power of the Modi government that farmers have got their due. “We brought in procurement policy after 2017 and sugarcane farmers were paid their pending dues by us,” he stated.

The CM noted that the BJP has won almost all seats in the recent panchayat polls in western Uttar Pradesh.

“The Opposition doesn't even believe in the process of elections. Thankfully, the panchayat polls were held using ballots, otherwise they would have alleged EVM tampering,’ the CM said.

He noted that today, the people know that events like Muzaffarnagar riots or Kairana exodus cannot be repeated.

Yogi’s admission on farm laws

On a question as to why the government surrendered before farmers’ unions over the issue of farm laws, Yogi said the PM had made it clear that the laws were made in favour of the farmers and they were being taken back keeping in mind the interest of the country. “Somehow we failed to tell the farmers and the people about the benefits of the farm laws,’” admitted the BJP leader.

On Akhilesh Yadav's recent personal attacks on him, CM Yogi said that nothing more could be expected from the people who follow dynastic politics.

On claims that COVID-19 management had failed in UP and there were images of bodies washing ashore on river banks, Yogi said whoever knows about COVID management knows that the WHO, Niti Aayog and other national and international experts have lauded the UP government's management of the pandemic. “And I credit PM Modi ji for the fight against COVID,” he said.