'UP might become Kashmir, Bengal if...': Yogi Adityanath

Image Source : PTI (FILE)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath flashes victory sign during a programme

Highlights

Ahead of the polling, Adityanath said a vote for BJP would be 'a guarantee of fear-free life'
He said that the double-engine govt in last 5 years has done everything with dedication & commitment
58 constituencies in Western UP, the hub of an 11-month farmers' protest, are voting in first phase

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has appealed to the people of the state to vote for the BJP in the Assembly polls. In a video shared by the Uttar Pradesh BJP on Twitter, he said that their vote will decide the future of the state as he cautioned people against the state becoming Kashmir, Kerala and Bengal "if the voters make a mistake."

"I have to tell you something that is there in my heart. A lot of wonderful things have happened in these five years. Beware! If you miss, the labour of these five years will be spoiled. It would not take much time for Uttar Pradesh to become Kashmir, Kerala and Bengal. Your vote is a blessing on my efforts of five years. Your vote will also be a guarantee of your fear-free life," Adityanath said in a video shared by the Uttar Pradesh BJP on Twitter yesterday.

Referring to the polling for the first phase of elections, the Chief Minister said that the time for a "big decision" has come.

"The time for a big decision has come. In the last five years, the double-engine government of the BJP has done everything with dedication and commitment. You have seen everything and heard everything in detail," he said.

The BJP under Adityanath's leadership is seeking a second consecutive term in Uttar Pradesh. The Samajwadi Party-led by Akhilesh Yadav is the main challenger.

In the previous Assembly elections held in 2017, the BJP had delivered a stunning win, bagging 312 of 403 Legislative Assembly seats. Then ruling Samajwadi Party had secured 47 seats and the Congress won just seven.

Meanwhile, the battle for Uttar Pradesh began today with polling at 58 assembly seats spread across 11 districts in the western part. Polling in the remaining six phases will take place on February 14, 20, 23, 27, March 3 and 7. The result will be announced on March 10.