Only BJP's 'lotus' can usher cool in sultry UP: Rajnath

Varanasi, Apr 29 (UNI) Urging the electorate to vote for the formation of a Kalyan Singh-led government in Uttar Pradesh, BJP president Rajnath Singh today said only the ''balmy cool'' provided by the BJP's 'lotus' could provide ''respite from the criminal clime in the state.'' ''Only BJP's lotus....and not SP's cycle or BSP's elephant can usher in balmy cool in sultry UP,'' Mr Singh said in a lighter vein while addressing an election meeting in Chiraigaon assembly constituency here.

Terming the Kalyan Singh-led BJP government of 1991 as the best performing regime UP has ever seen, Mr Singh said a vote for a majority government led by the same leader would solve all problems which the state has been suffering due to the non-performance of non-BJP governments in the state.

Recounting his decision to provide reservation to the most-backward and the most-Dalits during his stint as UP chief minister, Mr Singh said ''like me, Kalyan Singh will also live up to all your expecations''.

On the Mulayam Singh Yadav government, Mr Singh alleged: ''Except for making hollow promises and fostering lawlessness, his rule has done nothing for UP.'' Accusing BSP supremo Mayawati of commercialising politics by selling election tickets for whopping sums, the former Union Minister said ''A party which sells tickets will never uproot corruption, but will instead breed corruption if voted to power.'' ''An aspiring MLA, who contests on BSP symbol after shelling out whopping funds can never be expected to work honestly in the event of getting elected to the UP assembly. The resultant BSP MLA will first work to recover the sum invested by him for attaining the ticket,'' he alleged.

Claiming that the BJP and allies would get a clear cut majority by the completion of the seven-phase polls, Mr Singh reassured ''Our alliance with the JD(U) and Apna Dal will remain intact in all circumstances.'' ''We believe in long lasting friendship and not in betraying the allies like others,'' he maintained.

Earlier in the day, the BJP president visited the private hospital in Harahua area on the city's outskirts and met school children recuperating from injuries sustained in a road accident yesterday.

A minor was killed and 17 others, including 15 children and two teachers, were hurt when the school bus carrying them overturned after hitting an electric pole in the Harahua area.

UNI