‘UP Wallah’ eyes Lucknow from ‘Vikas Parva’ stage

SAHARANPUR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday lent his “Uttar Pradesh wallah” weight to BJP’s pitch to end its 14-year old “vanvas” (exile) from the seat of power in Lucknow. “Main Uttar Pradesh wallah hun. I am an MP from Uttar Pradesh.

It’s my natural right to seek your blessings,” Modi said at the beginning of his speech in Saharanpur, the first of his five ‘Vikas Parva’ rallies to mark two years of his government.

The PM’s “UP wallah” remark is significant considering how ‘Bihari vs Bahari’ was played against him during assembly elections in Bihar last year. While the PM stayed away from directly turning the ‘Vikas Parva’ event into a launchpad for BJP’s election campaign in UP, those who spoke before him were clearly rooting for a BJP government in the state. Union home minister Rajnath said: “The UP government must take steps to improve the law and order situation...14 years of (BJP’s) vanvas is complete. This vanvas from UP politics must end and there should be BJP government in the state.”

UP BJP chief Keshav Maurya said: “Goondaraj of SP is a barrier to development that needs to be removed.

People of UP want development works of Modi government to reach their doorsteps. We take a pledge of SP-BSP-mukt UP.”

PM Modi asserted that “development was the cure for all diseases” and reeled out a list of initiatives for the poor, farmers, women and the youth undertaken by his government.

The crowd went boisterous when Modi claimed that he had curbed corruption. “Corruption news was common earlier. I have taken the mantle to reduce corruption...This UP MP is giving accountability to you.”