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Parties hopeful of EC lifting curbs

Parties hopeful of EC lifting curbs

Political parties in Uttar Pradesh are hopeful that the Election Commission (EC) would allow public meetings with restrictions after January 31 and have started making plans accordingly…reports Asian Lite News

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati has become the first to announce her party’s poll campaign launch from Agra through a public meeting on February 2.

Major parties are finding it difficult to connect virtually with voters, especially in the rural areas where digital penetration is still not sufficient.

“Most voters in the rural interiors do not have smart phones and therefore do not access social media. Physical campaigning cannot be replaced with virtual campaigning at a short notice,” said a candidate in Sultanpur.

The campaigning had been restricted after the election notification on January 8 when the EC banned rallies, public meetings and road-shows — first till January 15 and then till January 31.

Parties hopeful of EC lifting curbs

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that was apparently well prepared for the situation, hit the streets first from January 21 onwards with door-to-door campaigning by several top party leaders. The top leaders of other parties are now planning a re-launch of their campaigns.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) withdrew its physical campaigns after the January 14 event at the SP state headquarters in which the former BJP minister Swami Prasad Maurya and Dharam Singh Saini joined the party. The Lucknow police had filed an FIR and the ECI had issued a notice to the SP over the event.

SP spokesperson Abdul Hafiz Gandhi, said, “Our national president Akhilesh Yadav and the allies were doing intensive campaigning. The Vijay Rath Yatra was so successful that it became a talking point all over. But the SP and ally leaders withdrew from the campaign scene following the ECI’s MCC and Covid guidelines. Also, in the meantime, we are busy strategizing in the war room. The campaign will resume as and when EC allows.”

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav has also said, “I am waiting for the ECI. My rath yatra will resume, once permitted, even if it means me riding the rath alone”.

Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) spokesperson also said that party chief Jayant Chaudhary will plunge into campaigning as soon as the curbs are relaxed. “Till then we are campaigning door-to-door,” he added.

ALSO READ: Elections in 5 Indian states from February 10 to March 7

Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) national spokesperson Piyush Mishra said, “Our president Om Prakash Rajbhar was intensively busy in campaigning solo. He will be back in action leading the party’s ‘Ghera dalo, dera dalo, gaon chalo abhiyaan’ — a village to village campaign programme — and when curbs are lifted, he and Akhilesh Yadav will address joint meetings.”

Mahan Dal chief Keshav Dev Maurya, Apna Dal (Krishna Patel) chief Krishna Patel and ex-BJP minister and now SP leader Swami Prasad Maurya, who have been doing the SP’s virtual rallies, will soon hit the roads as soon as EC announces relaxations.

The Congress, however, was being cautious.

Congress spokesperson Anshu Awasthi said, “If actual campaigning is allowed once again, then once again our leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other star campaigners will hit the roads. The Congress would appeal to the ECI to exercise caution because Covid is still very much there.”

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Yogi a major factor in Thakur support for BJP

With Yogi Adityanath becoming the chief minister in 2017, the Thakur community has been overjoyed at what they call, ‘our share in power’…writes Amita Verma

After almost three decades, Thakurs in Uttar Pradesh have experienced caste pride with Yogi Adityanath taking over the reins of the BJP government.

The fact that Yogi Adityanath is also the head of Goraksh Peeth, which is a Kshatriya Peeth, has an added advantage.

Thakurs in Uttar Pradesh, despite being a powerful community that wields influence in urban and rural areas, has failed to find its voice in the corridors of power after the end of the Veer Bahadur Singh regime in 1988.

Though Rajnath Singh was the chief minister in 2000-2002 but he deliberately downplayed the caste angle in his tenure.

Thakurs constitute only 8 per cent of the state’s population but actually own around 50 per cent of the land. They are known to wear their identity on their sleeves.

With Yogi Adityanath becoming the chief minister in 2017, the Thakur community has been overjoyed at what they call, ‘our share in power’.

There is no denying the fact that officers belonging to the Thakur community have been given good postings even though it is Brahmins who continue to hold high posts like chief secretary.

The opposition has even accused the Yogi government of going overboard in protecting Thakur interests and shielding Thakur criminals but the chief minister remains unapologetic about it.

Yogi Adityanath, who is respectfully addressed as “Maharaj’ by most Thakurs, is seen as a custodian of Thakur rights.

“Thakurs have not got anything substantial in the BJP but our sense of self-respect and pride has been protected and that is what matters most. As for an increased representation in the government, this is only natural because the number of Thakur officers is higher compared to other castes and they have not been inducted in the Yogi regime,” said Thakur MLA of the BJP.

The MLA further said, “In any case, Thakurs have nowhere else to go except the BJP. The Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party is keener on getting Brahmins into their fold and the Congress is preoccupied with its women campaign.”

Moreover, Akhilesh Yadav has managed to ruffle Thakur feathers and injure their pride when he made an uncalled-for remark during one of his election meetings in Pratapgarh.

Pratapgarh is the home of independent MLA and former minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh a.k.a. Raja Bhaiyya, who is now one of the tallest Thakur leaders in Uttar Pradesh. He has a royal lineage which adds to his stature and in state politics, he is known as an influencer who can make and break governments.

In Pratapgarh, Akhilesh was asked if he would ally with Raja Bhaiyya’s new party, Jansatta Dal, and the SP president responded with “Kaun Raja Bhaiyya?”

The remark evoked a sharp reaction among Thakurs-especially, since it was Raja Bhaiyya who had helped Mulayam Singh cobble up a majority by splitting the BSP and form government in 2003.

“How can he insult our leader like this? No Thakur is now going to vote for SP. Raja Bhaiyya had shown the courtesy of going over and wishing Mulayam Singh at his residence in November but the SP president’s behaviour is socially and politically incorrect,” said Kunwar Pratap Singh, a resident of Pratapgarh.

That Akhilesh is also not keen on Thakurs is evident from the fact that Thakur leaders in his own party remain side-lined.

The BSP, too, is not seen as pro-Thakur — especially after Mayawati had booked two Thakurs — Raja Bhaiyya and Dhananjay Singh under POTA in 2002.

The Congress, on the other hand, has almost no Thakur leadership left in the party and the focus in these elections is on women.

In this situation the BJP is bound to get majority Thakur votes in these elections and with Yogi Adityanath leading the campaign, his community is completely rallying behind him.

ALSO READ: It’s Yogi vs Azad in Gorakhpur

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Nishad claims 15 seats, BJP yet to confirm

The Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamara Aaam Dal, or Nishad party, was formed in 2016 and its leaders claim to enjoy support of the Nishad community, which is one of the Other Backward Classes (OBC)….reports Asian Lite News

Nishad President Sanjay Nishad has claimed that his party will contest in 15 Assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh as part of an alliance with the BJP.

However, Sanjay Nishad said that the seats are yet to be finalised, adding that that he will be meeting senior BJP leaders on Monday to finalise the constituencies where the party will field its candidates.

“We have got 15 seats (out of 403 seats) to contest in alliance with the BJP. The seats are almost final. Most of the seats are in ‘Purvanchal’ (east Uttar Pradesh) and some are in western Uttar Pradesh. There are some seats which we want to change due to changing equations. We are focusing not only on seat but ‘jeet’,” he said.

However, BJP leaders refused to comment on Sanjay Nishad’s claim and a party functionary said: “We are not aware of this seat sharing because no such information has bene communicated to us till now.”

The Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamara Aaam Dal, or Nishad party, was formed in 2016 and its leaders claim to enjoy support of the Nishad community, which is one of the Other Backward Classes (OBC).

Sanjay Nishad said his party has built cadre base all over the state and has substantial influence in Gorakhpur, Ballia, Sant Kabir Nagar, Ambedkar Nagar, Jaunpur, Bhadohi, Sultanpur, Faizabad, Chitrakoot, Jhansi, Banda, Hamirpur and Etawah districts.

The party fielded 100 candidates in the 2017 assembly election in alliance with the Peace Party of India, Apna Dal and the Jan Adhikar Party, but could win just one seat — Gyanpur in Bhadohi district.

Sanjay Nishad, now a member of the Legislative Council, had contested the last Assembly election from Gorakhpur Rural and came third.

In the 2018 Lok Sabha by-election, Sanjay Nishad’s son Praveen Kumar Nishad was a Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate and wrested the Gorakhpur constituency from the BJP which had been winning the seat since 1989.

Praveen Kumar Nishad is now a BJP MP from Sant Kabir Nagar.

The Nishad community is the second largest demographic group in Gorakhpur, the home constituency of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Talking about the virtual campaigning in the prevailing pandemic, Sanjay Nishad said: “We have associated youth workers who extensively use social media and digital offices of the party is functional in 70 districts (out of total 75). We are active on social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp.”

On reports that the BJP will be fielding people with criminal background from his party’s quota, he said: “We will go through the image of every candidate and his acceptance among party workers and people. If people and workers like a candidate, he can be given a chance.”

Commenting on ministers and legislators, belonging to the OBC castes, joining SP ahead of the election, Nishad said, “They had no popularity. They were praising and giving positive report card for Prime Minister and Chief Minister till now but when their personal demands were not met, they left the BJP. People now understand such leaders.”

Sanjay Nishad, however, admitted that SP is in a direct fight with the BJP, but added that the ruling coalition will win more than 300 seats.

“BJP takes all castes along. In the first list of candidates, majority of OBCs were given tickets. Its acceptance is good on the ground also due to works done by both the central and state governments,” he said.

ALSO READ: AAP questions EC ahead of Punjab polls

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BJP’s 3-tier arrangement for virtual rallies amid Covid restrictions

From deploying technical experts in each Assembly constituency, the BJP has made multi-camera set up at district level in Uttar Pradesh to broadcast rallies of senior leaders. …reports Shashi Bhushan

As the ban on the physical rallies and road shows was extended for one more week, the BJP has made elaborate plans to hold virtual rallies and meetings in all the Assembly constituencies in the five poll-bound states. The saffron party has made three tier arrangements from the national, state to district level for virtual rallies.

From deploying technical experts in each Assembly constituency, the BJP has made multi-camera set up at district level in Uttar Pradesh to broadcast rallies of senior leaders.

Sources said that for the virtual address of start campaigners a set up is being at national level in the national capital. “An arrangement is being made at national level for virtual addresses of national leaders and star campaigners,” sources said.

Similarly, in all poll-bound states arrangements are being made in the state capital for virtual addresses of state leaders and other star campaigners.

In Uttar Pradesh, the biggest state where polls will be held, the BJP has made special and elaborate arrangements at state, zone and district level. “All the necessary infrastructure for virtual rallies or meetings have been placed across Uttar Pradesh. We have divided the set up in three levels in Uttar Pradesh. At the state level, arrangements have been made at the state capital, similar arrangements have been made at zone and district level. As per the plans, star campaigner and senior leaders can use the arrangement at any level to virtually address the voter,” a senior Uttar Pradesh BJP functionary said.

The Uttar Pradesh BJP also uses multi camera set up and technology to create a 3-D impact during virtual rallies of star campaigners. “This time setting up a studio using multi cam and technology to create 3-D effect,” another Uttar Pradesh BJP leader said.

The BJP has also got software designed as per its requirement and trained workers to use it. Necessary logistics support is also provided to workers at assembly levels to effectively hold the virtual rallies without any glitches.

Punjab BJP president Ashwani Sharma said that all the arrangements for the virtual rallies of party leaders have been made and technical experts have been deployed at each assembly constituency.

“Our workers are trained to organise virtual rallies and logistics have been arranged. We are also deploying one or two technical experts to help our workers to hold glitch free virtual rallies,” Sharma said.

In the hill state of Uttarakhand, the saffron party is also sending experts in each Assembly constituency and setting up a studio in Dehradun to serve as a central link of all virtual rallies and meetings.

“Senior leaders will address the virtual rallies from the studio in Dehradun. Link will send to all the voters of a particular Assembly seat on their mobile phones to join the rally,” a Uttarakhand BJP functionary said.

A central BJP leader said that similar arrangements have been made in all the poll-bound states, including Manipur and Goa and all the necessary assistance is provided to the state unit to smoothly hold the virtual rallies.

“We are prepared to hold virtual rallies and meetings. We are fully prepared to follow whatever guidelines issued by the Election Commission,” he added.

On Saturday, the ECI extended the ban on the physical rallies and road shows till January 22, however, it has allowed the political parties to do indoor meetings of maximum of 300 persons or 50 per cent of the capacity of the hall or the prescribed limit set by State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA).

ALSO READ: It could be touch and go for the BJP in UP

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UTTAR PRADESH: Yogi to contest from Gorakhpur

Yogi Adityanath and Keshav Prasad Maurya

BJP’s state election in charge Dharmendra Pradhan announced the candidates’ names for 57 of the 58 seats going to polls in the first phase and 48 of the 55 seats in the second phase, reports Asian Lite News

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Deputy Chief Minister Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya will contest the state Assembly polls from Gorakhpur and Sirathu constituency, respectively.

Cabinet Minister and BJP’s state election in charge Dharmendra Pradhan and party national general secretary announced the first list of candidates for the polls at the party headquraters in the national capital on Saturday.

Pradhan announced the candidates’ names for 57 of the 58 seats going to polls in the first phase and 48 of the 55 seats in the second phase.

He said the in the party’s Parliamentary board meeting held under the chairmanship of party national President J.P. Nadda and presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, decision to field Adityanath from Gorakhpur and Maurya from Sirathu was taken.

Both the leaders are members of the state Legislative Council.

The saffron party announced the candidature of Adityanath and Maurya as per their strategy to field veteran party leaders in the polls.

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BJP, Nishad Party and Apna Dal finalize seat sharing formula

It is learnt that Nishad party will contest about 15 to 18 seats and Apna Dal will contest 10 to 14 seats….reports Asian Lite News

Seat sharing formula between BJP and its alliance partners, Nishad Party and Apna Dal has been finalized. Both the Apna Dal and Nishad party are likely to contest a dozen seats each.

Sources said that the formula for seat sharing was decided after a meeting of leaders of both the alliance partners with union home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday night. “Last night, Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad, union minister and Apna Dal chief Anupriya Patel separately met Shah and discussed the formula for seats sharing. In the meeting the seat sharing formula was finalized,” sources said.

It is learnt that Nishad party will contest about 15 to 18 seats and Apna Dal will contest 10 to 14 seats. “Couple of candidates of both the parties may contest on the BJP symbol,” sources said.

The BJP’s Central Election Committee (CEC), meanwhile, met on Thursday to finalise candidates for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. Sources said that names of 172 candidates have been finalised where polling will be held in the first three of the seven-phased polls.

For the first time, the CEC meeting is being held in the hybrid form as a few of the CEC members, including party chief J.P. Nadda, Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari have tested positive of Covid infection.

According to sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nadda, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari virtually joined the CEC meeting. CEC member and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is also attending the meet at party headquarters.

Union Ministers Shah, Dharmendra Pradhan and Anurag Thakur, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath are among the leaders who are physically attending the meeting. Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and Uttar Pradesh BJP general secretary (organization) Sunil Bansal are also present in the meeting.

The Assembly polls will be held in seven phases in February-March starting from February 10. Counting of votes will be held on March 10.

ALSO READ: Congress gives 50 tickets to women in UP

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Do or die battle for these leaders in Uttar Pradesh

Interestingly, most of these leaders belong to the new generation and this is the first time that they are in full command of the party they are heading, a report by Amita Verma

The 2022 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh are more than just about forming a government.

This is a ‘do-or-die’ battle for those leaders whose political future depends on the outcome of the elections.

Interestingly, most of these leaders belong to the new generation and this is the first time that they are in full command of the party they are heading.

The leader who faces the biggest challenge of his political career in this election is Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav.

Having positioned himself as the main challenger to the ruling BJP, Akhilesh has single-handedly led the campaign, stitched up alliances and even selected candidates.

Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi

In 2017 and 2019, leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav and Prof Ram Gopal Yadav had helped Akhilesh. Mulayam in 2019, had openly expressed his dissent on the alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party.

This time, Mulayam Singh Yadav has stayed away from election-related activities though he does make an occasional appearance at the party office.

The credit – or the blame – of the SP performance in the 2022 elections will, therefore, fall squarely on the fragile shoulders of Akhilesh Yadav. The outcome could make or mar his career, as most senior party leaders claim.

Another leader in the same league is Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra who is in total charge of the party’s state unit.

Priyanka is finalising the poll strategy, selection of candidates and also the mood of the campaign. While she has focussed on the election strategy, she has failed to check the health of the party’s state unit which is witnessing an unprecedented exodus of leaders.

(Picture source: Twitter@priyankagandhi)

Her campaign for women and 40 per cent reservation for them in party tickets may have created a buzz in state politics but whether it will reap benefits for the Congress remains to be seen.

The Congress has also been losing leader after leader to other parties and this has left the cadres rather demoralised.

Since this is Priyanka’s first independent political outing, the result will decide her future in the Congress.

What makes her task even more daunting is the fact that this time, Priyanka’s mother and Congress president Sonia Gandhi will not be campaigning due to health issues and her brother Rahul Gandhi has also kept himself away for unexplained reasons.

If the Congress fails to achieve the desired results in these elections, it will be Priyanka’s second failure after 2019 when she had taken charge of UP and Rahul Gandhi lost his Amethi seat.

Her failure this time could bring out the knives and also create hurdles in her elevation to national politics.

Jayant Chaudhary, president of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), is also facing a make-or-break battle in the UP elections.

RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary addresses during Samvidhan Live in New Delhi. (Photo: IANS)

This is the first time that he is independently leading his party into elections after the demise of his father Chaudhary Ajit Singh.

Jayant has the advantage of being the sole political beneficiary of the year-long farmers’ agitation and his political handling of the election scenario could revive his party that has been languishing in the sidelines for long.

If the RLD performs as per expectation in these elections, Jayant will be able to establish himself as the undisputed political leader of the Jats.

These elections are extremely crucial for Mayawati, president of the Bahujan Samaj Party. The BSP is at its lowest ebb and Mayawati’s unexplained absence from the campaign has demoralised the cadres.

If the BSP fails to get a decent number of seats, it could further isolate the party in Uttar Pradesh and put Mayawati in an uncomfortable position.

ALSO READ: BJP begins door-to-door campaign in Uttar Pradesh

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First phase in UP is challenge for BJP, hope for SP

First phase in UP is challenge for BJP, hope for SP

There is a battle for the BJP in western Uttar Pradesh, hope for the Samajwadi Party and revival for the Rashtriya Lok Dal in the region that goes to polls in the first phase on February 10…reports Asian Lite News

The region, considered one of the most politically sensitive, surcharged and highly polarised areas, especially after the farmers’ agitation, will set the tone for elections in the remaining six phases in Uttar Pradesh.

Elections will be held in the 94 Assembly segments in 11 districts of west Uttar Pradesh namely, Shamli, Meerut, Hapur, Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Agra, Gautam Buddha Nagar and Mathura, on February 10.

In the 2017 Assembly elections, BJP had received a decisive mandate in the region and carried that momentum further to other parts of the state.

The BJP, in 2017, had won 66 of the 76 seats in this region. The Samajwadi Party (SP) won four, the Bahujan Samaj Party won three, the Congress won two and the Rashtriya Lok Dal could win only one.

The scenario has changed almost completely in the past five years.

The wounds of Muzaffarnagar riots of 2013 have healed to a large extent and the Jat-Muslim hostility has diluted. The communal lines have blurred and farmer unity is now a bigger factor in the region. Religious polarization is unlikely in the region in the present scenario.

The BJP has been trying to placate the farmers by repealing farm laws but its own leaders are queering the pitch by announcing that farm laws will be brought back after the elections.

It has been a tough going so far for the BJP whose leaders have been facing hostile voters in the rural interiors of the region. The failure of the government to announce MSP guarantee, payment of cane dues, shortage of fertilizer and the menace of stray cattle are factors that remain major irritants for the ruling BJP. The government’s apathy towards families of farmers who died during agitation, is another major factor.

The biggest political beneficiary of the farmers’ agitation that lasted for one year, however, is the Rashtriya Lok Dal.

The RLD president Jayant Chaudhary has managed to regain lost ground among the Jat community to a large extent by extending active support to farmers during their agitation. Jayant has been visiting villages, attending Khap meetings and interacting closely with Jat leaders.

The demise of Chaudhary Ajit Singh in May last year, has also brought ample sympathy for Jayant and his party is poised to make a political comeback in west UP.

The Samajwadi Party, this time, is contesting the elections in alliance with the Rashtriya Lok Dal. It had allied with the Congress in 2017 but could not make much headway as Jats, then, had opted for BJP because the wounds of Muzaffarnagar riots were still fresh.

The SP, this time, is confident of riding piggyback on RLD’s growing popularity graph.

The partnership could give a tough fight to the BJP in many parts of western Uttar Pradesh.

Besides, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav’s uncle Shivpal Yadav will be contesting in alliance with the Samajwadi Party and this will help avoid a split in his key vote bank.

One factor that could upset Samajwadi Party calculations in the first phase is the entry of Asaddudin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM).

The party could play an important role in many constituencies as the Muslim population in this region amounts to around 26 per cent.

If the AIMIM succeeds in weaning away Muslim votes — or even a section of votes — the SP-RLD alliance may not perform as well as expected.

The first phase in western UP is also crucial for the Bahujan Samaj Party since the region was once considered as a party stronghold.

ALSO READ: BJP to showcase law and order, Hindutva to woo voters

This time, the emergence of Bhim Army which will be contesting as Azad Samaj Party is bound to damage the BSP which, in any case, is being questioned for Mayawati’s absence in its campaign.

Mayawati, has, so far, restricted herself to tweets and press releases but has not stepped out of her home to campaign.

The Congress, on the other hand, is losing leaders with an alarming frequency. Congress national secretary and one of its more popular leaders in the areas, Imran Masood, is all set to join the Samajwadi Party.

Masood, a former MLA, has been repeatedly urging the party leadership to join hands with the SP to defeat BJP.

Harendra Malik and Pankaj Malik of Congress have already quit the party to join the SP.

The women card of the Congress is unlikely to work in western UP where the patriarchal system still dominates the society and women claimants in elections are few and far in between.

One thing that is clear is that any party that takes a head start in the first phase where 94 seats — almost one-fourth of the total 403 seats — will be going to polls, will enjoy a definite advantage in the remaining six phases of elections in Uttar Pradesh.

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BJP to showcase law and order, Hindutva to woo voters

With the announcement of polling dates for the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, all major political parties have intensified their campaign, apart from taking pot-shots at one another…reports Asian Lite News

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is confident of making a comeback in the state despite the opposition parties — the Congress, Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party, giving the saffron party a tough fight.

The party has been sounding confident on the issues it has taken up for the elections, as well as on the popularity of its faces in Delhi and Lucknow.

In fact, the BJP veterans have been continuously claiming that the party will repeat its last election’s performance.

The party which has often backed the idea of “a double engine government”, is constantly putting forth the issues and agendas related to Hindutva along with the development work. According to party sources, the BJP leaders will try to woo people on the basis of this strategy.

Apart from listing the achievements of the public welfare work of the Narendra Modi and Yogi Adityanath governments, the BJP leaders will also discuss the issue of Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura, its core agenda.

ALSO READ: BJP sets up 24-member election committee for UP

Terming the issue of law and order as the biggest achievement of the Yogi Adityanath government, the BJP leaders are likely to be seen appealing to people to vote in favour of the party to keep the momentum going.

The BJP has also prepared a blueprint for the digital campaign in an attempt to reach out to the voters amid restrictions imposed by the Election Commission following rise in the number of Covid cases.

A BJP leader associated with the election campaign told IANS the party would be making an effort to woo every section of the electorate to vote in favour of the party. Hence, “the party has taken special care of the youth, women, elderly, the workers as well as the voters associated with the party over the Hindutva ideology”.

The party will continue to focus on its core agenda of “Ayodhya-Kashi-Mathura” as well, he said.

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BJP sets up 24-member election committee for UP

Union Ministers Sanjeev Balyan and S.P. Singh Baghel and Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti are also members of the BJP Uttar Pradesh election committee….reports Asian Lite News

The BJP has formed a 24-member election committee in Uttar Pradesh, including four special invitees, to prepare for the upcoming Assembly polls.

Uttar Pradesh BJP president Swatantradev Singh, state Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Dinesh Sharma are members of the committee.

Union Ministers Sanjeev Balyan and S.P. Singh Baghel and Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti are also members of the BJP Uttar Pradesh election committee.

Uttar Pradesh BJP in-charge Radha Mohan Singh, co-incharges Sunil Oza, Y. Satya Kumar and Sanjeev Chaurasiya are members of the election committee as special invitees.

Party national vice presidents Baby Rani Maurya and Rekha Verma, national general secretary Arun Singh, national secretary Vinod Sonkar are also part of the election committee of Uttar Pradesh BJP.

State general secretary (organisation) Sunil Bansal, and joint general secretary (organisation) Karmvir Singh are also part of the committee along with senior leaders of state and members of state cabinet.

Son of former Chief Minister Kalyan Singh and Lok Sabha member Rajveer Singh is also part of the committee.

Elections for the 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls will be held in February- March this year along with Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa.

The BJP has organised ‘Jan Vishwas Yatras’, which covered all the 403 Assembly constituencies, to reachout to the people with the works of the party ruled government at the Centre and state.

The BJP will have a community outreach plan to pacify Brahmins, who reportedly were upset with the party, will explain to the community about the government welfare schemes which benefited them. To reach out to the youth, the party is organising youth conferences in all the districts in which senior leaders and youth leaders of the party are participating.

The saffron party also has planned several programmes to strengthen its booth management.

Goa BJP postponed meetings

Amid a rising spate of Covid-19 cases in Goa, the ruling BJP has altered its election campaign strategy by postponing public meetings and focussing on small gatherings and door-to-door campaigning instead, state party president Sadanand Shet Tanavade said on Thursday.

“We have postponed some meetings that were supposed to be held across the next week. We will focus on small gatherings and door to door campaigning. Today’s two meetings have been cancelled,” Tanavade told reporters.

“Door to door and special contact programmes will carry on as normal. Up to January 10 we had planned public meetings,” he added.

Assembly polls are scheduled to be held in Goa in February along with four other states, namely Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

On Wednesday, Goa logged 1,002 new cases, the first time that the single-day spike crept above the four-figure mark in months.

ALSO READ: BJP to corner Congress over ‘lapse’ in PM’s security