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BIG STORY JANUARY 21, 2022 | The Indian Eye 4

FIve STATeS eLeCTIoNS

Big Test for Modi

Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur go to polls next month.

The votes will be counted on March 10. The results of these elections can set the tone for

2024 general elections. Is the BJP sitting comfortably or facing trouble?

OUR BUREAU
Lucknow/New Delhi/Chandigarh

f one believes opinion polls, the
ruling Bhartiya Janata Party
I(BJP) is predicted to retain Uttar
Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Manipur,
while Goa and Punjab may return a
hung assembly where Congress is not
in the driver’s seat. A survey by India
TV-Ground Zero Research showed
the BJP winning in UP but with less-
er numbers at 230-235 seats (39.32
per cent votes). The Samajwadi Party
could see a three-fold increase in its
seats to 160-165 (36.2 per cent), this
survey predicted.
As the high-octane political battle
for the five key assemblies, including
the largest Uttar Pradesh, has reached
its peak, an opinion poll has found
that over 72% of Indians want to see
Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister
in the year 2024. PM Narendra Modi,
who enjoys huge popularity among In-
dians is also opted to be the start cam-
paign of the Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly Manufacturers show the sarees printed with the pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and
Elections 2022. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slogans, designed for the upcoming UP election campaign (ANI)
As far as the assembly polls for
the 403 seats in UP is concerned, the al ministers and sitting legislators have elections. All candidates are members he would withdraw all cases lodged
opinion poll found that BJP’s Yogi left the party for SP. And in Uttara- of the Jayant Chaudhary-led RLD, ac- against farmers and the families of
Adityanath remains people’s choice khand, BJP suspended state cabinet cording to the list shared by the party those who had died during the agita-
for Chief Ministerial candidate in minister Harak Singh Rawat from the on social media. “I hope people of the tion would be given Rs 25 lakhs each.
2022. Akhilesh Yadav is the second party for six years. The party media co- state will support the candidates of He said that it was the unity of farmers
choice, while Mayawati remains a ordinator for Uttarakhand, Manveer this coalition,” Tikait said. that had forced the BJP to take back
distant third. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Singh Chauhan, said Rawat had been At the same time, Samajwadi Par- the farm laws.
who launched a power-packed ‘main suspended for ‘indiscipline’. ty is trying to woo the farmers. Akh- In Punjab, all the contesting polit-
ladki hoon, lad sakti hoon’ campaign The BJP has another big problem: ilesh Yadav has said that when his par- ical parties- BJP, Congress, AAP, Akali
focused on women’s welfare and de- the anger among farmers. In UP, farm- ty comes to power, he would ensure Dal, and the Punjab Lok Congress-
velopment in UP, as per the opinion er leader Naresh Tikait has extended minimum support price for all crops have talked up a big game ahead of
poll, is being favoured by no more his support to SP-RLD candidates in for farmers. He said that he would cre- the polling process. Though Congress
than 4-5% as UP’s CM face. the upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections. ate a farmers’ revolving fund to ensure forms the current government in Pun-
But opinion polls, especially in The alliance of the Rashtriya Lok Dal payment of cane dues besides making jab, AAP and BJP have been putting
state elections, are generally wrong (RLD) and Samajwadi Party (SP) had adequate arrangements for ensuring their best foot forward for the election
and misleading. The BJP is facing on Saturday announced its second list free irrigation, loan, pension and in- campaigning in the state. An opinion
problems in many states. In UP, sever- of seven candidates for the assembly surance for them. He also said that Continued at next page... >>

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