UP polls: Yogi repeats 80 per cent vs 20 per cent remark ahead of final phase voting
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath mentions peaceful polling in six of the seven phases as proof of his government’s work on the law and order front
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who had made the “80 per cent vs 20 per cent” remark when the seven-phase assembly polls started from west UP in February, repeated it on Saturday ahead of the final phase of UP polls in the state’s eastern region on Monday (March 7).
Yogi Adityanath stated the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would sweep Uttar Pradesh while the Opposition would be left battling for the remainder 20 per cent vote share.
“I can say with full confidence that when polling is over and results are declared on March 10, 80 per cent seats will be won by the BJP with its allies and it will form its government with a massive majority,” he said.
He also mentioned the peaceful polling in six of the seven phases of the UP polls so far as proof of his government’s work on the law and order front.
“You could compare the situation with the ones that used to be in the state in 2009 Lok Sabha polls, in 2012 UP assembly election, in 2014 Lok Sabha polls as well as in the 2017 UP election when there used to be complete lawlessness. Now, our effective implementation of the rule of law in the state has helped the election commission too, in conduct of the polls,” Yogi Adityanath said at the UP BJP office in Lucknow. He said this shortly before campaigning for the seventh and final phase came to an end on Saturday evening.
Effective law and order and action against mafia, along with its focus on “gareeb kalyan (poor welfare)” have been a key campaign pitch of the BJP.
Yogi Adityanath also accused the Opposition of “insulting national heroes”, of eulogising “Jinnah and Pakistan” while the BJP spoke and stood for “national unity and pride”.
“Before 2014, UP and national politics used to be divided on caste and communal issues by the Congress and others. The main issues were diverted. But since 2014, the focus of the double engine government has been on developing infrastructure, on restoring respect in matters of faith and ensuring benefits of welfare schemes reached the poor. All credit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who changed the country’s agenda,” Yogi Adityanath said.
He also recalled his government’s three main initial steps on taking power in 2017 – initiating ₹36,000 crore loan waiver of an estimated 86 lakh farmers, shutting down illegal slaughterhouses and setting up anti-Romeo squads. With these references, he sought to highlight the focus of his government on farmers, faith (cow is revered by majority Hindus) and women’s security.
Political experts were quick to notice that Adityanath’s reiteration of the “80% vs 20%” remark a day before 54 seats go to vote in the seventh and concluding phase of the fiercely contested UP polls. They likened to tactical posturing, aimed at a plan of seeking consolidation of BJP votes and preventing voting on caste lines.
The BJP, which swept the polls in 2017, had won 31 of these 54 seats that will see voting on Monday.
The Opposition too had managed to make a point back then. The Samajwadi Party, despite the anti-incumbency wave, still won 13 and Bahujan Samaj Party bagged six of these 54 seats.
There are nearly 20% Muslim voters in Uttar Pradesh and many have sought to link the “80 vs 20” remark as a polarising one aimed at consolidation of Hindu votes. This time, the BJP is without its 2017 pre-poll ally Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party in east UP. But it has sought to balance the loss of a key OBC ally by inking a pact with Nishad party, comprising members of the OBC community of boatmen and fishermen, who are considered influential along the riverine areas.
Yogi Adityanath, on his part, has however been stating that “80 vs 20” wasn’t meant in the context of religion or caste. Rather, he had sought to demarcate the “80 per cent” as those happy with his government’s agenda for security and stated that “20%” comprised critics.
“It’s a reaction to action. I said 20 per cent people always oppose us while 80 per cent are with us. These 20 per cent always opposed us, they have a negative mindset ... they back mafia and criminals,” Yogi Adityanath had explained.
On Saturday, Yogi Adityanath said caste blocks have fallen apart in the 2022 UP polls.
“Dynasts lie defeated and vote blocks lie shattered,” he said in an obvious reference to the Samajwadi Party and the Congress. In the 2017 UP polls, the BJP had made impressive gains even in regions considered to be the bastions of the SP, the BSP and the Congress.
“In 2017, we had promised dangamukt (riot-free), safe UP and in last five years we have effectively implemented this and it is quite evident during the ongoing polls too,” Yogi Adityanath said.