It may put up a brave face but the truth is that no party can afford to be complacent
With less than a week to go for the first phase of elections in Uttar Pradesh, the political temperature in the electorally significant State is soaring. Barely hours after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had praised to the skies the BJP’s “double-engine Government” and listed his achievements, with special emphasis on the “improved” law and order situation, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi alleged that his car was fired upon while he was returning to Delhi from Hapur district in the poll-bound State. To add to the ruling dispensation’s troubles, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha has appealed to UP farmers to “punish” the BJP in the elections for “betraying” them by not fulfilling their demands. Fifty-seven farmers’ organisations have backed the call, though the Morcha claimed that it had nothing to do with seeking votes for any particular party and remained apolitical. The Government had made promises but no committee has yet been formed for the MSP, nor the cases registered against farmers were withdrawn, it pointed out. Meanwhile, Yogi claimed that his Government in the past five years had set many milestones: The successful fight against COVID, saving life and livelihood, boosting economy, setting up industries, police reforms, better law and order and boost to infrastructure projects.
To convince and appeal to voters to vote for the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address another digital rally (the first one was on January 31) on Friday, covering nearly 20 Assembly constituencies of western UP. The Election Commission had earlier this week extended the ban on road shows, padyatras, vehicle rallies and other processions till February 11 but allowed more people to participate in door-to-door campaigning and physical public meetings. But the moot point remains whether, in spite of the catchy “chai waala, gai waala” slogans, the voters of Uttar Pradesh remain on the same page as the saffron party. Despite its proclaimed “success”, the campaign against COVID failed to inspire or enthuse people and remained more or less ineffective in saving several lives for want of essentials, such as medical oxygen. Then the loss of employment opportunities and shutting down of industries also added to the burden of people, especially the middle and lower classes. In the short period that it still has, the BJP will do well to convince voters that only it remains a viable governance option.