Amit Shah sets 65-seat target for BJP in Uttarakhand, calls for third consecutive term

New Delhi: Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday set the agenda for the BJP's election campaign in Uttarakhand as he called for a "hat-trick" in the state, setting a target of winning more than 65 seats in the upcoming assembly elections. The state has 70 assembly constituencies.

Addressing a public rally here on the 26th Foundation Day of Uttarakhand, Shah said that when the Congress is in power, it advocates a "Muslim university", while the BJP is freeing government land from encroachments by removing "illegal shrines and madrasas". He also described Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Vote Bachao yatra' as a "Ghuspetiya Bachao Yatra", calling for the removal of "infiltrators" from electoral rolls and the country.

Addressing the rally, Shah asserted that the BJP would form the government in Uttarakhand once again and said the "voice of Uttarakhand" should reach Gandhi.


"The BJP aims to make Uttarakhand a secure and prosperous state and transform 'Devbhoomi' into the cultural capital of the country," Shah said.

He claimed that Gandhi was "miffed" when the removal of encroachments from 29 acres of land in Haldwani was ordered, referring to a land dispute in the town.

"Rahul ji, your attempts at tourism in the state will not help, as thousands of BJP workers are continuously working to solve problems of locals across the state. The Modi and Dhami governments are working together to ensure that development of the Uttarakhand government does not stop," said Shah.

Shah urged party workers to conduct door-to-door outreach and ensure the formation of a BJP government for a third consecutive term. Referring to the party's electoral performance, which saw it win 57 seats in 2017 and 47 in 2022, he called on workers to achieve the target of "crossing 65 seats" this time.