BJP spots ''silver lining'' in UP poll debacle

Varanasi, May 30 (UNI) Not ready to come to terms with humiliating performance in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the BJP today spotted a ''silver lining'' saying it would post better results in the Lok Sabha poll.

Addressing a 'Samiksha Baithak' (poll review meet) of representatives from 67 Assembly constituencies of East UP, BJP state legislature party leader and former UP Minister Om Prakash Singh said ''We should not be disheartened with the results of the just-concluded elections. May be had he performed better, but fell well short of majority, then we could have supported governments led by the SP or BSP.'' ''But now BSP supremo Mayawati is in government with majority, which will now put pressure on her and not her opponents. The BSP replaced non-performing SP government. May be in future, the BJP will do the same with the elephant party, the reflections of which could well be manifested by Lok Sabha election results in this politically crucial state,'' he added.

The former state party president, who managed to retain his Chunar seat in neighbouring Mirzapur district despite a strong BSP wave, maintained ''The Mayawati government has also started pursuing the politics of vendetta by working against political opponents which will ultimately work against it in the days to come and consequently help in the revival of BJP's fortunes in the Lok Sabha polls. Ms Mayawati's much touted masterstroke of social engineering will not work for long,'' said Mr Singh.

Mr Singh, however, exhorted the party rank and file to start connecting with traditional voter base again to perform remarkably well in the Lok Sabha election.

''Our voter is slowly becoming one who exercises franchise through remote control by sitting at home on the polling day. We need to again awake him politically,'' was the call of the newly elected BJP legislature party leader.

The BJP leader also gave a patient hearing to the grievances and suggestions of party representatives. While many blamed the BJP's failure to act as a credible Opposition against the erstwhile Mulayam Singh Yadav government was the prime reason behind party's awful performance, some even raised voice against the BJP-Apna Dal tie-up.

UNI