Uttar Pradesh elections: What is the strategy of different parties in the turmoil of western UP

In Uttar Pradesh, the time for the first round of assembly elections is approaching and the election campaign is now gaining momentum. Voting will be held in 58 seats in western Uttar Pradesh in the first phase. Voting is to be held on February 10.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the big leaders of the opposition parties have now focused their entire attention on western UP. Along with this, efforts are being made to understand which party has the game-plan for western Uttar Pradesh?

Several BJP leaders like Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, and CM Yogi Adityanath were on a tour of different districts of western Uttar Pradesh on Thursday. He raised the issues of temple and law and order there.

On the other hand, Chaudhary Jayant Singh, the leader of the Rashtriya Lok Dal, who had an alliance with the Samajwadi Party, has ruled out the possibility of joining the BJP.

How is the campaign of BJP going?

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had campaigned for his party by meeting people from house to the house last week in Kairana. On Thursday, he was on a tour of Vrindavan in western UP.

Amit Shah went door-to-door here and met people, but before meeting the people, he visited the Banke Bihari temple and mentioned the Ram temple in the workers' meeting.

Amit Shah said that 'the construction of the temple has started in Ayodhya only because of Modi Ji's government'. Taking the opinion of the workers, he asked that 'if there was no Modi Ji's government, would Baba Vishwanath's corridor be built-in Kashi'. It was also asked that 'Will the corridor of the temple of Vindhyavasini Mata be made'.

Taking a sarcasm at Akhilesh Yadav, he said that Akhilesh Ji always used to say that the temple would be built there, but would not tell the date.

He also raised the issue of abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir and said that this demand was 70 years old, but was fulfilled only when Modi Ji's government was formed.

Amit Shah also questioned Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on the law and order situation. He said that when action is taken according to the law, the SP suffers.

He alleged that five years ago when Akhilesh Yadav's government was in power, there was a goonda raj in the state, Bahubali used to harass people, women were insulted. But ever since the BJP government came to the state, the Bahubalis whom the police were afraid of, now they are afraid of the police and are surrendering.

Amit Shah alleged that when action is taken against these musclemen, Akhilesh Ji feels pain in his stomach. Somewhere Azam Khan and somewhere Mukhtar Ansari, don't know how many were given shelter by the SP.

Amit Shah also talked about development and claimed that being the largest state, the election of UP will decide the fate of India.

On the other hand, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was also on a tour of West Uttar Pradesh on Thursday. Along with counting the works of his governments, he put the previous government of Akhilesh Yadav in the dock.

He said, "Now Hindu festivals are being celebrated with pomp in the state, whereas Kanwar Yatra used to be banned under the SP government. I even showered flowers on the Kanwariyas with a government helicopter. During his government, shots were fired at Ram Bhakts.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh also talked about the temple. He was in Ghaziabad district adjoining Delhi on Thursday, but his style was somewhat different.

Rajnath Singh said, "People say that you always talk about the temple, but what else are you doing. If the old legacy should end, then the Parliament of India has also been built by the British. In its place, we are also building a new temple of democracy. Want to see everything in a new way.

What did Jayant Choudhary say?

Earlier, Amit Shah had a meeting with Jat leaders in Delhi on Wednesday. During this, National Lok Dal leader Chaudhary Jayant Singh was also mentioned. This time Jayant has joined hands with Akhilesh Yadav's SP.

BJP leaders also talked about the doors being open for Jayant Chaudhary. However, Jayant rejected the BJP's invitation by tweeting on Wednesday itself.

Jayant Chaudhary said in a program on Thursday also on the alliance with SP that 'he is not a chawanni who should turn around.

He further said, "Who is allergic to brotherhood. But where were the BJP leaders when the farmers were crushed? He is still sitting as a minister. The decision to contest the elections with SP has been taken after careful consideration. People should not take them lightly.

He alleged that showing sympathy to him is an election gimmick of the BJP, while the truth is that the BJP does not have much affection for him. He claimed that the condition of the BJP in the state is dilapidated, so sympathy is being expressed to him to take along his lost votes.

Every party and every alliance is currently taking its steps according to its strategy. But in what form the messages reach the voters and how much they can turn the direction of the political wind, it will be clear only on March 10.

Assessment of senior journalist Ramdutt Tripathi

Senior journalist Ramdutt Tripathi, who has been reporting in Uttar Pradesh for years, spoke to the BBC about the current trend in western Uttar Pradesh.