Assembly Election 2022 LIVE Updates: BJP ensured safety, rights of women, says PM Modi in UP's Barabanki

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday promised to enhance the security of cows, while also ensuring that the state government will help protect farmers' fields from stray cattle. Adityanath asserted that 'gaushalas' (cow shelters) will be built on a large scale to protect cows. "We have completely stopped illegal slaughterhouses. I promise that we will not let 'Gaumata' be slaughtered while we'll also protect fields of farmers from stray cattle," the chief minister said, addressing a rally in the Tiloi assembly constituency of Amethi.

If BJP is scared of someone, it brings agencies (ED) to defame them (Nawab Malik) &sends them to prison after false trials. We've seen this multiple times, BJP once said it's in danger after a pouch was found in the Assembly, which actually was sawdust. Samajwadi Party's efforts are to connect more & more people with us. I cannot comment (on whether Rita Bahuguna Joshi will join SP) but her son (Mayank Joshi) met with us: SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, in Gonda

Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday said the Samajwadi Party-led alliance will score a double-century of seats by the fourth phase of Uttar Pradesh polls and asked people to ensure a historic win for the coalition. He also took a dig at Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his reported promise of providing laptops to those who take "admission in Inter after passing class 12". Inter is the short form of Intermediate and refers to classes 11 and 12. "There is a leader in the BJP who... made a statement on distributing laptops and whoever heard it has gone 'lotpot' (split their sides laughing)." "He said those who take admission in Inter after Class 12 will be given laptops. Good that he did not say those doing class 10 after Inter will get a laptop, else people would be perturbed," Yadav said at an election meeting here.

Senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday said if her party comes to power in Uttar Pradesh, it will adopt the Chhattisgarh government's scheme to buy cow dung to deal with the menace of stray cattle. Referring to a recent speech by Prime Minister Narendra Modi wherein he promised voters that a new policy will be introduced after March 10 to tackle the issue of stray cattle in Uttar Pradesh, Vadra said she is happy that he "copied" the Congress' suggestion. Addressing a public meeting in Jagdishpur here, she said the Congress-led Chhattisgarh government has shown how to solve this issue.

Former Union minister R P N Singh, who recently crossed over to the BJP, said the ‘ladki hoon’ slogan coined by his old party will have no effect on the assembly polls, claiming that the Congress tickets have gone only to the wives of its leaders. He also dismissed the impact of UP minister and Other Backward Class leader Swami Prasad Maurya switching over to the Samajwadi Party and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has breached caste barriers with development schemes guided by the inclusive mantra of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vishwas”. Once a close aide of Rahul Gandhi, Ratanjit Pratap Narain Singh aka RPN said the Congress now does not exist as a party or an ideology.

We are not 'parivaar wala' but we identify the pain of all families because entire India is our family, entire Uttar Pradesh is my family. All of you are members of my family: PM Narendra Modi in Barabanki 

I would like to ask dynasts who say that they have a family & know the pain of families, why did they not care about Muslim daughters? They had to return to their father's home with their young children. Why did they not feel the pain of families?: PM Modi

Previous govts had closed their eyes from needs & problems of our daughters. If they had even a little empathy, would they have given freedom to goons who used to molest our school-going daughters? Today goons know that if they cross boundaries, strict action will be taken: PM

UP govt will bear expenses of online education/exams, preparation of any competitions... SP used to conduct 'Saifai Mahotsav', with no colours, language, or emotions, the organizers didn't even know what was happening: CM Yogi Adityanath in Sultanpur

Dynasts want the poor to be always at their feet and keep revolving around them. We care for the poor and we are working to bring down the problems of their lives. That is why, today the poor of UP is standing with BJP & is blessing BJP in all phases: PM 

Development of people of UP gives speed to development of India. The ability of the people of UP enhances the ability of the people of India. But for several decades in UP, the dynasty-oriented govts did not do justice to the ability of UP: PM in Barabanki

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday accused the BJP and the Samajwadi Party of talking about terrorism during the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections while diverting attention from the "central discourse" on unemployment, inflation, empowering women and helping small businesses and farmers. Gandhi also said that other parties have woken up to the menace of stray cattle and the need to raise women issues only after her party spoke about them during the poll campaign.

These elections are essential not only for the development of UP but also for the country. UP might be a total of 7% of the country, in terms of area. But if you look at its population then it comprises over 16% of India's population: PM Modi in Barabanki

From 1st to 4th phase of the elections, Samajwadi Party's list included rioters, criminals and mafia but now their connections with terrorists can also be seen: Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Uttar Pradesh polls in Lucknow

We have completely stopped illegal slaughterhouses. I promise that we will not let 'Gaumata' be slaughtered while we'll also protect fields of farmers from stray cattle: UP CM Yogi Adityanath at a rally in Amethi

Whenever there used to be vacancies in the state before 2017, 'Saifai khandaan' (family) used to do 'vasooli' (charge money) for them but we gave 5 lakh government jobs to the youth: UP CM Yogi Adityanath in Amethi

We are going to get around 350 seats. Development work done, work has been done to protect our identity, culture & traditions. I think people have accepted it. SP-BSP-Congress are going to be become history like Article 370 and 35A: Pankaj Singh, BJP MLA & candidate from Noida

Reena Dwivedi is one of the polling officers in the ongoing Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022. On February 22 (Tuesday) she arrived at the Mohanlalganj polling booth wearing a sleeveless black top and paired it with beige high waist pants. SEE PICS 

Reena Dwivedi

Senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has admitted that the fight in Uttar Pradesh is tough. In an exclusive interview with India TV, Priyanka sought to blame the Samajwadi Party for the party's present condition in the state. She said that Congress lost its ground in Uttar Pradesh because it contested elections in partnerships. FULL STORY

This is a new beginning for the Congress. Congress' organisational set up went weak fighting the election in alliance. I am nothing without my party workers. They are very important. New leadership will emerge after the polls. It is wrong to say we don't have second rung of leaders. We have leaders who have risen from the grassroot level: Priyanka Gandhi 

I admit it is a tough war, but I am proud of my party and workers that we are fighting alone on 400 seats for the first time in 30 years. We are fighting 2022 election with full strength: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

Former Chief Minister and Congress leader Okram Ibobi Singh feels Manipur is ripe for a change of government as people are "fed up" with the current dispensation. The ruling BJP's "divisive politics" both at national and state level are unlikely to succeed in any of the five states going to the polls, Singh told PTI in an interview. "I believe that the people of Manipur are fed up with BJP. It is just that they have not been able to express it openly. The BJP has been telling lies and making hollow promises. They have not converted any of their promises into action," he claimed.

The Congress slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Tuesday speech in the poll-bound Manipur, saying that he "gave erroneous information, and false claims" and did not mention the state's fundamental issues including the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act. Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Gaikhangam Gangmei said Modi, on earlier occasions, had made so many commitments but did not fulfill any of them so far. Ramesh asked why was the PM completely silent on fundamental issues of Manipur -- AFSPA, MSP for crops and irrigation for farmers, rising unemployment among youth, price rise of essential commodities - much above national average, and rising illegal drug trade from across the border. Noting that the PM made tall claims on bringing railways to Manipur, he, in a series of tweets, said: "Truth is that the Congress government completed 70 per cent of the railway project in Manipur.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said Uttar Pradesh under the rule of the SP and BSP was a “hotbed of terrorism”, while applauding the Yogi Aditynath dispensation for eliminating mafia and preventing riots in the last five years. "Under the rule of the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Uttar Pradesh was known as the hotbed of terrorism. The state was known as the centre of riots and corridor for the mafia throughout the country. In the five years of the BJP government, there is no terrorism, riots and the mafia is also not seen anywhere,” he said.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday referred to mention of 'Lankesh' in Ramayana and said the main opposition party in the state "should be called dangesh". Addressing a poll rally in Bahraich, Yogi Adityanath accused the Samajwadi Party of "shielding mafias and terrorists".

A big industrialist earns Rs 1,000 crore daily, while a farmer cannot even make Rs 27 a day, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, accusing the government of working for its "friends". She launched a no-holds barred attack not only on the BJP, but also on the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) as she drummed up support for Congress candidates in the state capital on the last day of campaigning for the fourth phase of the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls. 

Union minister Anupriya Patel has hit out at her elder sister Pallavi Patel, asking why she chose to contest the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls on the Samajwadi Party symbol if she was committed to their father’s ideals. Pallavi Patel is contesting the polls from Kaushambi’s Sirathu against Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. Anupriya Patel, who is the Union Minister of State for Trade and Commerce, is heading the Apna Dal (Sonelal), which is an ally of the ruling BJP. Pallavi Patel’s party Apna Dal (Kamerawadi), which is headed by her mother Krishna Patel, is contesting the polls in alliance with the Samajwadi Party. Campaigning for Maurya, Anupriya Patel attacking her sister said, "If you are committed to the ideals of father, then why did you left your own party symbol and contesting on the Samajwadi Party’s cycle symbol." Anupriya Patel claimed that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has "punctured SP's cycle" in the first three rounds of voting and in the remaining phases, opponents will taste defeat. Pallavi Patel is contesting on the Samajwadi Party symbol as differences had cropped up in the opposition alliance over fielding of candidates in the Prayagraj and Kaushambi regions. Her entry in Sirathu has made the contest tough for Maurya.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has four friends and they are "goons, terrorists, mafia and corruption", Union Minister Anurag Thakur said. He also alleged that during the tenure of the Samajwadi Party (SP), goons and the mafia took the life of innocent people. "Akhilesh has four friends: goons, terrorists, mafia and corruption," the BJP leader told reporters. When questions were asked to Akhilesh Yadav about people contesting elections "from jail or on bail, he was silent", Thakur said, a day before the fourth of the seven phase Uttar Pradesh assembly polls. "Yadav is also silent on Azamgarh, the hub of terrorism," he said. Attacking the Congress, the BJP leader said, "Why does Priyanka Gandhi not raise any question on Akhilesh and terror connection." Taking a jibe at Priyanka Gandhi, he said, "Ladhki hoon, ladh saktee hoon, lekin sahi baat nahi kah saktee hoon (I am a girl, and I can fight, but cannot say the correct thing)."

BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda has alleged that Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has taken an oath to protect terrorists and wondered whether such a person can be entrusted the reins of Uttar Pradesh. He claimed that Yadav as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh had freed terrorists and withdrew cases against them. Nadda also hit out at Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, saying even though her father, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, "died in a terrorist attack, terrorism is a 'fizul ka mudda' (a pointless matter) for her".

BJP Lok Sabha MP Rita Bahuguna Joshi's son met Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday, a day before polling in Lucknow in the fourth of the seven phase Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. Yadav tweeted a photo of Mayank Joshi meeting him and described it as an "informal meeting".

BJP will not only repeat the history but it is also an undeniable possibility that our number of seats will increase: Defence Minister and BJP leader Rajnath Singh in Lucknow 

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has described the "bulldozer" as a UP government "brand", saying it is effective both for building expressway and running over the mafia. The UP authorities have been using bulldozers to demolish illegal buildings constructed by criminals and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav had earlier called the CM "bulldozer baba". Attacking the Samajwadi Party (SP) during an election meeting, Adityanath said his government has created a new "brand". "Bulldozer is effective for expressway and also to run over the mafia," he said. Adityanath said the state does not need those who dream but a government that moves forward with a firm resolve.

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has urged people to vote for those who "protect cows and not those who kill them", vowing that his government will neither allow “cows to be slaughtered, nor farmers’ crops to be damaged'. Addressing an election rally in Ayodhya and later another one in Barabanki, the chief minister also promised a stipend of Rs 900 per month per cow to farmers on forming his government again. Alleging that the Samajwadi Party used to supply even power to an area on the basis of the religion of people living there, he told an election rally in Barabanki that the BJP government work on the principle of inclusive growth.

As 59 Assembly segments in Uttar Pradesh vote in the fourth phase of the elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address public meetings in Barabanki and Kaushambi on Wednesday. Meanwhile, BJP chief, JP Nadda, will hold public meetings in Pratapgarh and Prayagraj.

Congress general secretary Harish Rawat has posted a video on social media that purportedly shows one person at an Army centre ticking and signing several postal ballot papers. Sharing the video on his Twitter handle and Facebook on Tuesday, Rawat said, "Sharing a short video for everyone's information. It shows how one man at an army centre is ticking and signing several ballot papers. Will the Election Commission take cognisance of this?" When asked about the tweet, Rawat's spokesman Surendra Kumar refused to disclose the source of the video but claimed that it is from Uttarakhand. The party has not made a formal complaint to the Election Commission in this regard yet but it can take suo motu cognisance of it, he said. The Congress leaders termed it as a "mockery of democracy" and urged the Election Commission to take cognisance of the video and act against the guilty. The state Congress has retweeted Rawat's tweet. Leader of Opposition in the Uttarakhand Assembly Pritam Singh said, "In this video that makes a mockery of democracy, a man at an army centre is seen ticking and signing several postal ballot papers in favour of the party of his choice." The Election Commission should take cognisance of it and act against the guilty, Singh said. Reacting to the tweet, the BJP termed it the Congress' frustration, saying the party is doing it as it can see its defeat in the recently held Assembly polls. "The Congress is resorting to such tactics as it is aware that it has failed to mislead people. In the face of its imminent defeat the party which was talking earlier about manipulation of EVMs is now talking about ballot papers. It shows the party's frustration," Pradesh BJP media incharge Manveer Singh Chauhan said. The Army should be kept away from politics and Congress should avoid levelling such allegations without testing their authenticity, Chauhan said.

Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and Congress leader Harish Rawat said that Congress will get more than 48 seats in the state due to strong anti-incumbency against the ruling BJP."We will get more than 48 seats in the state assembly polls," he said responding to a query about Congress chances of forming government in the state.He also said that Congress doesn't work with a spirit of revenge."Being a senior Congress leader, I am saying that a Congress government will not work anywhere with the spirit of revenge," he said. Asked about state Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami meeting former chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, the Congress leader said a younger brother should go to the elder brother.

Slamming Samajwadi Party over law and order situation in the state and riots during its rule, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday referred to mention of 'Lankesh' in Ramayana and said the main opposition party in the state "should be called dangesh". Addressing a poll rally in Bahraich, Yogi Adityanath accused the Samajwadi Party of "shielding mafias and terrorists"."Now UP doesn't see riots and curfews. They (SP) imposed curfews, but we take out Kanwar Yatra. You must have heard of 'Lankesh' in Ramayana, similarly SP should be called 'dangesh'," the Chief Minister said.Referring to actions taken by his government to vacate illegally occupied land and properties, the Chief Minister said "a strong government holds the stick of development in one hand and that of the bulldozer in the other.""BJP's double engine government has given a strong and stable government to UP. Last government by SP was lacking in this," he added.

UP Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma said that the Bharatiya Janata Party will have a record-breaking win in the polls, while the Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Congress combined won't be able to touch 100 mark. Speaking to news agency ANI, Sharma said, "BJP has fielded the most ordinary of its workers. No use of money and muscle power (has been done), the only assessment for BJP's ticket was the diligent work of its workers. BJP will have a record-breaking win. SP, BSP, Congress combined would not be able to cross the 100 mark. "Taking a dig at Samajwadi Party, the Deputy Chief Minister said, "SP has made a century of defeats. I think after the 10th, people will have nightmares of defeat. Instead of March 18, BJP workers will play Holi on March 10 to celebrate its win." "When the results will be out, many of the current MLAs who are fighting for SP, BSP, CPI(M), CPI Congress and others will become ghosts, and will mourn," he added. Confident of BJP's win, Sharma said, "Earlier in the 2017 election, people would say that BJP has lost its current and I think, this time there's a high voltage current in the BJP, whose biggest blow is going to be on the opposition, especially to the Samajwadi Party." Exemplifying Lucknow's development under the BJP-led state government, Sharma said, "Lucknow is the Karmabhoomi of Atal (Bihari Vajpayee) ji. At a glance, one can make out how much development has happened here. The development in Lucknow under MP Rajnath Singh, during the tenure of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, is an example for entire India."

With Manipur going to polls next week, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit the northeastern state on February 23. This will be his first visit to the north-eastern state after the dates for the Assembly elections were announced in January this year. Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the state on Tuesday and addressed election rallies in Imphal. As part of his agenda, Shah is scheduled to address two public meetings in the tribal-dominated Churachandpur Assembly constituency in Manipur and he will also have lunch at the district party office-bearers' home. The second venue for his rally is Kangpokpi Assembly constituency, which is home to a significant Gorkha population. This shall be followed by a door-to-door campaign by Shah in Yaiskul Mandal and Bhamon Leikai. Even though this region is inhabited mainly by Naga population, it also has a significant number of Gorkhas who are residing here. The former BJP national president will also be holding a meeting with the state party leadership later in the evening to assess the progress of campaigning before heading back to Delhi.