‘If BJP cadres not as enthused, it is due to lack of strong Opposition. Whom should they fight’: UP Dy CM

As the Lok Sabha elections move into the final two laps, all activity in Uttar Pradesh has shifted to the eastern parts of the state. Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya is camping in Prayagraj to oversee the BJP campaigning for east UP. In an interview to The Indian Express at his residence before the start of another hectic day of campaigning, Maurya speaks about the BJP’s expectations from the Lok Sabha results in UP, says they are cracking down on paper leaks, and rules out any review of Agnipath scheme. Excerpts:

The BJP alliance is already over the majority mark. I am sure of it. In UP, we will win most of the seats, including Rae Bareli (from where Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is contesting) and Kannauj (Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav’s constituency). The INDI alliance is in contest only in a few seats, but we will win those as well, maybe with a thin majority. The poor, farmers, youth and women are our strength.

We will win at least 75, if not all 80.

I did not notice that, but I can understand that this might be because there is no strong Opposition in front of us. So whom should our workers fight? The SP, Congress or BSP, no one has any workers at the grassroots. Our workers have a well-planned system on the ground, with details of booths and voters in their areas. Our slogan is ‘100 mein saath hamara hai, baaki mein bantwara hai. Bantware mein bhi hamara hai (Out of 100, 60 are with us, among the rest, there is division. Even in this division, we have a share)’…

Women from families of even Opposition leaders say they will vote for Modi ji. The call is for a ‘corruption-free’ India.

It is because they are spreading lies. If we do not clarify, they will keep spreading lies and misleading voters. No one