Amit Shah: Modi's popularity, welfare schemes will help BJP win

Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP Chief JP Nadda claimed on Saturday the party is going to win Uttar Pradesh with a sweeping majority while retaining Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur due to the overwhelming popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the welfare schemes of the Centre.

In a press interaction before the campaigning for last phase of UP elections drew to a close, the two leaders said BJP's state government had effectively implemented the welfare schemes, including the distribution of free foodgrains to the poor. Shah said while unemployment and inflation may have some impact, the positives outweigh the negatives and this will work in BJP's favour.

"In the four election-bound state where we are in power, the state machinery has ensured that the welfare schemes which used to be only on paper earlier, have percolated down to the grassroots. We (BJP) have got the direct benefit of the Prime Minister's popularity. We will form the government in the four states and we will do well in Punjab," Shah said.


The Home Minister emphasised that democracy has been established across the spectrum and the three ills of casteism, appeasement and dynasty politics have been given got a strong blow.

"There has been a big change in the law and order situation in UP and crime rate has fallen by up to 70%, be it cases of murder, rape, loot, extortion...," Shah said.