BJP’S STRATEGY SPIN ON THE ELECTORAL TURF OF WESTERN UP

Besides the ‘Hindutva card’, the party is raising the issue of tainted faces of the SP-RLD

Lucknow: To repeat the history of the 2017 assembly elections in western UP, the BJP has started moving forward on a special strategy.

Besides the ‘Hindutva card’, the party is raising the issue of tainted faces of the SP-RLD alliance, while at the same time; it is also targeting the RLD directly.

The announcement of SP-RLD giving ticket to Nahid Hasan from Kairana provided an opportunity for the BJP to adopt aggressive posture.

Nahid, who was imprisoned under the Gangster Act, was replaced by his sister Iqra Hasan as the candidate of the alliance.

But due to this development, the issue of exodus of Hindu businessmen from Kairana again started gaining momentum.

BJP questioned the intention of SP to give ticket to Aslam Choudhary from Dhaulana, Haji Yunus from Bulandshahr Sadar, Rafiq Ansari from Meerut city, Amarpal Sharma from Sahibabad and Madan Bhaiya from Loni seat.

Because, most of them have been accused of serious cases like murder, robbery, extortion and gangster act.

BJP termed the inclusion of Muharram Ali, accused of Gurdwara violence case in Saharanpur, in the SP as a conspiracy against the Sikh society.

The top leadership of BJP has taken over the command of the campaign as well as the well oiled machinery of the party has been fully activated in western UP.

Union Home Minister and BJP’s star campaigner Amit Shah started his election campaign from Kairana and took a dig at the alliance on the Kairana issue. Shah and JP Nadda are in constant touch with influential Jat leaders.

The party’s campaign to make inroads among Gurjars and other leaders of the OBC class has also gained momentum.

Till now, under this strategy, BJP used to attack only against SP, but now Jayant-led RLD has also come under the target of party leaders. According to political expert Dr VN Mishra, by giving tickets to leaders of tainted image, Akhilesh has given a big opportunity to the ruling party.

Cases of violence and criminal offenses are registered against many candidates. Because of this, there is also a lot of resentment on the ground. If this anger flares up, it can dent the Jat-Muslim formula of the alliance and the BJP may get a chance to take advantage of it