Samajwadi Party: Narendra Modi's frequent visits to UP show fear of SP-BSP pact

LUCKNOW: Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's frequent recent visits to Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party on Saturday said that they have become necessary for BJP which is rattled by the proposed alliance between SP and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) for 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The frequency of PM's visits will increase as dates of general elections draw close, SP leaders said.


" Abhi to unhein rozaana UP ka daura karna padega (He will soon be visiting UP every day).... Let the time come," said SP principal general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav in Lucknow hours before PM's arrival in the state capital to attend an event marking the third anniversary of the launch of AMRUT, Smart City Mission and other schemes.

Senior party leaders claimed that talk of SP-BSP tie-up has rattled the BP. "The bonhomie among SP-BSP cadres in four recent bypolls in UP has proved that together the two parties can counter BJP in the state like nowhere else in the country," said SP spokesperson Udaiveer Singh.

"The BJP has little to showcase in terms of achievements in its four-year rule at centre and in the state. The poor law and order in UP only adds to the saffron brigade's problems," he said.

Senior party leaders alleged that BJP has failed on all fronts including development, creating jobs for youths or providing relief to farmers. "As a result, the party is not left with any option but to resort to event management," they said. "The party has only once face and that is of the prime minister, but it is completely missing the point that in 2019 elections PM Modi will not be a challenger as he was in 2014, but will be on the other side of the net," said a senior SP leader.