Modi-Yogi combination a hit, SP-BSP alliance will break: Keshav Prasad Maurya

People of Uttar Pradesh rejected the caste politics of the SP and BSP, deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya told Aman Sharma in an interview and predicted that the opposition alliance will break in a few days. Edited excerpts:

What helped the BJP hold its fort in UP despite the SP-BSP-RLD alliance?
This country will not tolerate anyone abusing Narendra Modi as he is the most loved Prime Minister. People of UP did not appreciate the alliance leaders calling Modi names. People rejected the caste politics which SP-BSP tried to insert yet again in UP. We were hence never worried about the alliance as Modi is a leader of all sections of society, be it the forwards or backwards. Also, in our vibrant democracy, public’s blessings are only for those whose aims are pure. But in the SP-BSP alliance, the aims were not pure – they were selfish, opportunistic and came with unforgettable baggage of corruption, crime and lawlessness. Hence, people did not support them – this mandate has proven that.


Will the Mayawati-Akhilesh Yadav alliance last till 2022?
I can predict that this alliance or relationship will not last long. Akhilesh Yadav said he wanted to make Mayawati the PM now and maybe aim to become CM himself in 2022. Now that neither of them is becoming either, the alliance is only waiting to get broken. The politics of caste has been bid farewell from UP. The Modi chemistry is stronger in UP than any caste chemistry. The Mungeri Lal ke haseen sapne (dreams) of SP-BSP leaders have crashed as their sleep broke.

The alliance leaders spoke a lot against Yogi Adityanth’s record as CM too…
They played negative politics. This is a kamaal (amazing achievement) of the Narendra Modi-Yogi Adityanath jodi (pair). The Centre and UP government with complete honesty did excellent work – it is discussed by people. These alliance leaders may say anything but the public is with us. The alliance leaders who attacked Modi and Yogi were actually without any issues – in their tenure, there were big issues of poor electricity, law and order, and good roads. We attended to all these issues and hence the alliance had nothing to raise against us. The public voted for development.

Priyanka Gandhi was a new factor. Akhilesh Yadav also ran a big campaign…
Priyanka was no factor as she had failed in UP earlier too. The Congress was full of ego and arrogance here even though the few workers that the Congress had in UP only wanted to get photographed with her. About Akhilesh Yadav, he should learn that sitting in AC rooms and tweeting will not bring him votes. The mandate proves Yadav votes are not anyone’s fiefdom now. I think both the SP and BSP supremo will not be able to catch any sleep for days to come.