Switchovers and heated remarks are at a high in the poll-bound state of Uttar Pradesh where the BJP is facing a direct challenge from the Samajwadi Party. State Cabinet minister Swami Prasad Maurya’s exit from the party is believed to have been the main issue discussed at the high-level meeting in Delhi to discuss strategy for the polls and candidate names, which was chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday.
The BJP is expected to not give tickets to at least 60 of its sitting MLAs in the state, where its attempts to woo the backward community have suffered a major setback in the recent days at the hands of the Samajwadi Party. While pre-poll surveys have predicted a victory for the BJP in the state, they have also forecasted a close contest with Akhilesh Yadav’s party.
I will be joining the Samajwadi Party on 14th January… I have not received calls from any small or big politician. If they were cautious on time and worked on public issues, then BJP would not have to face this: MLA Swami Prasad Maurya
Why did the Punjab CM brief a private citizen (Priyanka Gandhi Vadra) on the PM's security protocol and the breach? Why is the private citizen, who is a part of the Gandhi family, an interested party?: Union Minister Smriti Irani
Congress MLA from Behat (Saharanpur) Naresh Saini, Sirsaganj (Firozabad) MLA Hari Om Yadav, and former SP MLA Dr Dharmpal Singh join BJP in presence of senior Uttar Pradesh BJP leaders in Delhi pic.twitter.com/9LWh0KPQXO
— ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2022
If AAP comes to power in Punjab, we will give Rs 1000/month to every woman above 18 years of age: AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal in Mohali pic.twitter.com/PLUqnpJzAL
— ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2022
We demanded an alliance (with Samajwadi Party) but that could not happen. There is a direct fight between SP & BJP, that is why Imran Masood & I have decided to join Samajwadi Party. We've sought Akhilesh Yadav's time for joining today: Congress MLA Masood Akhtar pic.twitter.com/vivwVf4irM
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) January 12, 2022
TMC MP Sushmita Dev has said the opposition parties in the country need to think of an alternative against the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi before going to the people to seek votes.
#UPDATE | At his residence in Etawah, BJP MLA from Bidhuna, Vinay Shakya refutes his daughter's claim about his kidnapping; says he is with Swami Prasad Maurya and will join the Samajwadi Party pic.twitter.com/7RIaNWWkLL
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) January 12, 2022
With the assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh barely a month away, the BJP’s efforts to woo OBC votes suffered a major setback with the exit of state Cabinet minister Swami Prasad Maurya, which is likely to be followed by over a dozen MLAs, as claimed by the long-time OBC leader who jumped the ship with the Samajwadi Party. Read More
We assure people of Punjab to improve law&order situation&ensure justice in all previous incidents of sacrilege if AAP comes to power. Security will be ensured to all – be it PM or anyone else. Name of CM's face will be announced next week: AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal in Chandigarh pic.twitter.com/XOrV4Qld44
— ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2022
The BJP is likely to announce its list of 180 candidates for polls across five states by January 15. It will interesting to see the selection of the candidates in Uttar Pradesh, particularly the western part, given the recent remarks by the party’s top leadership in the state.
