In an exclusive interview with India TV on Thursday, Apna Dal (Sonelal) chief and Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Anupriya Patel spoke on several poll issues, including NDA's ambitious target to achieve 400 seats in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
On the question about Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav's claim that I.N.D.I.A bloc will defeat NDA in the general elections, Patel said the former UP chief minister lives in denial and he failed to read people's mood constantly.
"Yadav was defeated in 2014, 2017, 2019 and 2022 yet he keeps boasting. In the last 10 years, he tried all the political equations - SP and Congress alliance, SP and BSP coalition and others - but failed to outsmart NDA. He defiantly lives in denial," said Patel.
Denying any impact of Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi's reunion in the elections, she said they came together in the past too but nothing happened and people rejected them. "UP has rejected 'do ladaken' and voted for NDA," she asserted.
Replying to a question on NDA's 400 seats target in the Lok Sabha elections, she said, "Unless you dream big, you will not work hard. We set big goals for ourselves to achieve them."
Citing the Modi government's achievement in the economy, she asserted that the 400-seat target is achievable.
"The Modi government brought the Indian economy from the 'fragile category' to the top five economies. Now, we set our goal to make it among the top three economies," the Union Minister said.
Taking a jibe at the Opposition, she said in 10 years, they could not find a face against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Speaking on development works in her constituency in Uttar Pradesh, she said in ten years, the government boosted religious tourism in the region which helped the local economy in creating jobs.
The Apna Dal (Sonelal) chief, an NDA ally, is seeking a hat-trick of victory from the Mirzapur constituency.
