Anupriya Admits Setback In UP First Phase

Lucknow, Feb 15: Apna Dal (S) President Anupriya Patel, a BJP ally, on Tuesday admitted that the ruling party will suffer a dent in support in the first phase of assembly elections in western Uttar Pradesh where it got as many as 53 out of 58 seats in 2017. On the possibility of losses to the Samajwadi Party-RLD alliance in the first phase of polling, she said that this election should not be compared with the last.

“In the last elections there was a clear wave due to which the alliance got 53 of 58 seats. As per my estimate, our partner BJP will get 40 out of 58 seats in the first phase. If we look at it as normal voting conditions, then it should be considered an advantage and not as a loss,” she said. She rejected the possibility of a rift in the alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party and Apna Dal (S).

“Leaders of political parties who talk about rift between Apna Dal (S) and BJP, they themselves blame each other for defeat after elections and fall apart,” she said. “Our alliance is not opportunist and its success in the last three elections is itself a proof.” Ahead of the last elections, the law and order had collapsed due to state-wide anarchy. “In such a situation there was eagerness among the people for change. People felt the good governance of three years of the Modi government was full of achievements.” Has the intensity of the wave of 2017 reduced?

She answered: “People of areas which were infamous for riots now live peacefully. To ensure participation of every section of the society in the development process is another achievement. “To open medical colleges in every district, to connect cities with expressways and provide air connectivity are not common achievements. I feel that the public will give another chance to our alliance.” She dubbed as a myth alleged resentment among minorities on Hindu-Muslim becoming an issue in the elections. On inflation and unemployment, she said no one can deny price rise but people understood the worldwide situation due to the corona pandemic. “This pandemic destroyed the supply chain globally and this is the reason that even the economies of several developed countries derailed.”

Patel said: “India is also a victim of this, but to keep the people unaffected from this crisis the government took an effective initiative. Because of this, our economy was saved from getting bumped.” Asked if due to unprecedented development and welfare works, vote percentage will increase in urban areas this time, she said that polling was always more in rural areas. She admitted that the problem of stray animals in rural areas cannot be denied. But along with this farmers feel a change in their lives due to schemes like ‘PM Kisan Samman Nidhi’ and ‘Har Ghar Nal’ scheme, she added. Patel said: “The government did not sit idle on the problem of stray animals. In fact cow shelters were set up up in villages. But I admit there is a need to fulfill the shortcomings. I am sure in the second tenure this problem will be sorted out permanently.” She denied any loss due to leaders of backward communities quitting the BJP-led alliance just before the elections. “Swami Prasad Maurya is an example who had to change his seat after RPN Singh joined BJP. Leaders like Maurya have presented an example of opportunist politics just ahead of the polls. These leaders have formed an opportunist alliance,” she said. “Our alliance has been accepted by the people in every election and this time too they will accept us,” she said. The BJP-Apna Dal alliance has fielded a Muslim candidate on Suar seat in Rampur. Patel said: “The BJP does not select candidates on our seats. We decide who to field. This is the beauty of our alliance. We do not interfere on each other’s matters.”