Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday described the urban local bodies elections in Uttar Pradesh as “Dev-Asur Sangram (fight between gods and demons)”, while urging the people to help the BJP form a “triple engine government” in the state.
The chief minister addressed several public meetings during his whirlwind campaign for civic polls across the state. The two-phase urban polls are scheduled for May 4 and 11 with the counting of votes on May 13.
He made the “gods vs demonic forces” comparison at his first public rally of the day in Naimisharanya, a popular Hindu religious place in Sitapur district, where he also promised that the place would be given a facelift.
“From this land of Naimisharanya, sage Dadhichi once donated his bones to make weapons for the victory of divine forces. Now is the perfect opportunity to use this election to teach the demonic forces a befitting lesson,” he said.
He said that the Naimisharanya will be given a facelift on the lines of the makeover that religious places like Kashi, Ayodhya, and Mathura have been given. After Naimisharanya’s rejuvenation, religious tourism will create employment opportunities in every sector, the chief minister said.
“Kashi is shining, a grand Ram temple is being constructed in Ayodhya. The work of rejuvenation of Mathura-Vrindavan is going on and now it is the turn of Naimisharanya,” he added.
{{/usCountry}}“Kashi is shining, a grand Ram temple is being constructed in Ayodhya. The work of rejuvenation of Mathura-Vrindavan is going on and now it is the turn of Naimisharanya,” he added.
{{/usCountry}}After this, while addressing his second rally of the day in Lakhimpur Kheri, the chief minister said that his government was working to develop places of religious significance as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Such development of religious places will lead to the opening of restaurants and hotels and much better infrastructure. All this would create better employment avenues and ensure farmers get good prices for farmers for their produce at their doorstep,” he said.
The construction of the corridor of Gola Gokaran Nath Dham, known as Chhoti Kashi, was going on at full pace in Lakhimpur Kheri, he said.
Yogi Adityanath said the Bharatiya Janata Party was a symbol of “suraksha, sushasan and samriddhi (security, good governance and prosperity).
Terming Lakhimpur Kheri district as a land of industrious farmers and eco-tourism, he thanked voters for electing BJP candidates on all eight assembly seats in the district during 2022 UP assembly polls.
He said Lakhimpur Kheri, the development of which was ignored by the BSP, SP and Congress governments, was now discussing four-lanes, tourism and its own medical college.
He assured people that his government had resolved to upgrade the Palia airstrip to a full-fledged airport, connecting Kheri to Lucknow, New Delhi and other major cities. He said city voters would now have to elect BJP candidates in the urban local bodies polls to ensure good roads in every locality and taps in every home.
Public works development minister Jitin Prasada enumerated the various infrastructure development projects awarded to Kheri.
U.P. minister and Kheri district incharge Ashish Patel highlighted the government’s zero tolerance policy against corruption.
In Balrampur, Yogi Adityanath said that the state has undergone a massive makeover over the last six years, with schemes and projects for all sections of the society.
He targeted the opposition Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and the Congress, accusing governments run by these parties in the past of failing to ensure development of the state. He also counted “benefits of double engine governments” and said in civic polls yet another “engine of growth” would be added.
“Then, this triple engine government would take the state faster towards prosperity,” he said.
Triple engine government is a term used by BJP leaders to refer to same party governments at the Centre, state and in urban local bodies.
“Now, you would see several people come and visit you as this is election time, but remember who was there with you during Covid-19 surge. It was the BJP and its cadre who served you, the government provided free rations and various other facilities. Only a government that cared for its people could do so much,” he added.
He also spoke of the difference development is making.
“Today, we reach Devipatan from Gonda in 45 minutes. Earlier, it took four hours. That’s the difference development is making in the lives of the common man,” he said.
In his last public meeting of the day in Gorakhpur, Adityanath urged the people to ensure a clean sweep for the BJP. He also addressed a meeting of physicians at the Gorakhpur Club on Friday evening. The BJP had won 28 of the 29 assembly seats in seven districts of Gorakhpur and Basti division in 2022.
“We will make Gorakhpur a world-class city,” he said.