UP Election 2017: Understanding Modi's kabristan remark

Three phases of the UP elections are completed and there is no clear indication as to who would win.

Monday witnessed a high voltage campaign in Uttar Pradesh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "If you create a kabristan (graveyard) in a village, then a shamshaan (cremation ground) must be created. If you give electricity uninterrupted during Ramzan, then it should be given for Diwali too without a break. There should be no discrimination, Modi said.

What led the prime minister to make such a heavy duty comment? Several pollsters say that the statement indicated a clear shift in the BJP's strategy. It was aimed at pointing out the pro-minority stand taken by the Samajwadi Party and such a statement will help engineer counter-polarisation, pollsters say.

Three phases of the UP elections are completed and there is no clear indication as to who would win. Many have predicted a hung verdict in UP. The BJP realises that it needs to win big in UP and hence such a statement by Modi is likely to help the party.

The BJP is banking heavily on the support of the upper castes. It also is consolidating the Yadav-OBC votes. A statement of this nature would help the BJP in appealing to the Hindus in UP. Further the statement was also aimed at bringing the various castes under one Hindu umbrella.

The next four phases are very crucial. The first three phases have been largely dominated by local issues. However, in the last four phases the voters of central UP and Poorvanchal would be casting their ballot. Poorvanchal is crucial since it has a large number of Muslims. The SP-Congress and the BSP are trying to gain heavily in this part of the state. In this context it becomes extremely important for the BJP to rope in the Hindu votes in large numbers. Pollsters say that taking these factors into consideration, the PM made such a statement.

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