'Tell Dalits they shouldn't vote...': UP BJP chief's voting advice pitch

Uttar Pradesh BJP chief urged party workers to have tea with Dalits and convince them to vote on nationalism. Swatantra Dev Singh's statement comes just months ahead of Assembly elections in the state. Singh was addressing the party's Vaishya Vyapari Sammelan in Lucknow. The event was also attended by CM Yogi Adityanath and Union Minister Piyush Goyal. “Have tea with 100 Dalits & make them understand votes are cast on the basis of nationalism. Make them understand that votes are and not on the basis of caste, money or religion,” he said. Elections for 403 assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh are due early next year. In the 2017 Assembly elections, BJP won a landslide victory winning 312 Assembly seats. Samajwadi Party bagged 47 seats, BSP won 19 while Congress won seven seats.