Repeat LS feat in 2017 UP polls: New state BJP chief to workers

Lucknow, Apr 11: Newly elected Uttar Pradesh BJP President Keshav Prasad Maurya today said his party would contest the 2017 state Assembly polls only on the issue of development and appealed to workers to ensure its victory in over 265 of the 403 seats.

"In 2017 state Assembly polls, we have to repeat the grand performance of the Lok Sabha election when BJP won 71 seats and its ally 2 out of the total of 80," he said here at the party headquarters, which wore a festive look with saffron flags and banners to welcome him.

Comparing BJP workers to the mythical figure "Hanuman", Maurya exhorted them to work towards sweeping more than 265 seats of the 403 member assembly.

The 49-year-old OBC leader also said that there was no criminal case against him.

"People say that I have criminal cases against me. I don't have any criminal case and I will not tolerate if any party worker is harassed," he said.

Apparently targeting SP and BSP, Maurya said people know which parties indulge in caste politics and nepotism.

"People say SP has Mulayam Singh Yadav and BSP has Mayawati. BJP is a democratic party and its one member is equal to 10 Mulayams and 10 Mayawatis," he said, adding that it was "one man show" in both parties.

"In BSP can anyone speak against Mayawati and remain in the party or in SP can any one other than a family member of Mulayam become the CM," he said.

PTI