Amit Shah says BJP accepts its defeat in Punjab assembly elections, will fulfil UP promises

Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah is speaking to the media as his party is headed for a stunning victory in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, trampling a fragmented opposition that had hoped the demonetisation exercise would have hurt Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity during crucial elections.

Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah is speaking to the media as his party is headed for a stunning victory in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, trampling a fragmented opposition that had hoped the demonetisation exercise would have hurt Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity during crucial elections.

BJP chief Amit Shah at the BJP’s headquarters on Saturday. (Mohd Zakir/HT Photo)

Here are highlights from Shah press conference:

*We will fulfil the promises we have made to the people of Uttar Pradesh.

*We accept our defeat in Punjab. We will study the defeat in depth.

*Narendra Modi has made sure people got bank accounts.

*The poor of the entire nation are with the BJP.

*Party will pick a face on the basis of performance: Amit Shah on UP CM candidate

*Move past Hindu-Muslim, a voter is a voter; politics of development should take place

*The PM has clearly said that in the first cabinet sitting, we will bring proposals for small farmers.

*People accepted politics of performance; this historic mandate will take the country to new direction.

*The is a strong reply by the people after rival parties’ bitter campaigning against Narendra Modi.

*We will form government in four states (UP, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa), even in Punjab we got a good vote share.

*I thank crores of people and workers across the country who boosted our confidence.

*The BJP’s victory is a victory of the people and Narendra Modi’s policies.