BJP combine will sweep polls: Rajnath

By J. P. Shukla

LUCKNOW, AUG. 2. Despite predictions of a sharp decline in the popularity of the Bharatiya Janata Party, leader of the ruling coalition in Uttar Pradesh, by mediapersons and other independent survey agencies, the Chief Minister, Mr. Rajnath Singh, is confident that he will be able to form the Government after the Assembly elections. Laughing away predictions that his party will get only 60 to 80 seats in the 403-member Assembly, he says the election results will prove them wrong.

Mr. Singh says his calculations are based on a comparison of the present political situation with that of 1999 when the Lok Sabha elections took place. Those were the worst days for the BJP but it still won in 129 Assembly segments. And most of the sections that were against his party then were favourably disposed towards the BJP now.

Speaking to The Hindu today, Mr. Singh elaborated on the factors that had come to favour his party. Primary teachers were now enjoying the benefits of the Fifth Pay Commission. Village heads, who could earlier be removed by members of Block Development Committees, had got stable terms as they could now be removed only by a two-thirds majority in the Gram Sabha. Farmers had got Rs. 175 per quintal more for their paddy during the last harvesting season and various benefits had been announced for the traders.

On the political front, the BJP had entered into an alliance with the Rashtriya Lok Dal leader, Mr. Ajit Singh, which would ensure a sweep for the combine in western Uttar Pradesh.

However, what had changed the basic complexion of politics in the State was his decision to provide reservation within reservation to help the deprived sections among the Dalits and the backward classes.

Mr. Singh said he had disarmed both the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party with his reservation policy. It was evident from the change of stance of Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav and Ms. Mayawati. They had initially confronted the Government on the issue and even threatened that there would be caste wars, if the policy was implemented. But ultimately they went on the defensive.

The changing stance of the Samajwadi Party on the murder of the MP, Phoolan Devi, was another example, the Chief Minister said. All the hue and cry raised by Mr. Yadav had become counter- productive.

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Section  : National
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