LUCKNOW: Not having stepped out herself so far to address any election rally ahead of the 2022 polls in UP, BSP chief Mayawati on Thursday hit out at BJP, Samajwadi Party and Congress for holding rallies and meetings, calling them “nervous”.
"Those who are doing rallies are worried. I am holding crucial meetings and will address rallies when the time is right. Also, it is very difficult to believe BJP’s claim about getting more than 300 seats this election. Despite being the ruling party, why are they being forced to make these hurried announcements, inaugurations etc. The party has also deputed its central ministers and senior party leaders to visit UP in large numbers," she said, adding that just before the elections, if the chief minister and other senior UP BJP leaders were having to visit some districts multiple times and lure people including students, it meant that they were not confident.
The former UP CM had called a meeting of the 18 mandal heads and 75 district presidents on Thursday to discuss election strategy. The first report of the election preparations taking place at the booth level, an activity which started on October 21, was also submitted to Mayawati. Respective in charges will be given only a week’s time to address any shortcomings or issues being faced in their areas, she said.
"Opposition parties are trying all sorts of tricks to create a wave in their favour. BSP workers will be warned about this as well and told what they should do and say in response to these statements and actions. BJP, SP and other opposition parties are trying to hide their shortcomings and therefore giving this election a Hindu-Muslim colour. BSP people will have to go across the state and warn people about this," she said.
BSP workers have been told to campaign on two levels, one by talking about the anti-people activities and policies of other governments, including the current BJP government in the state and then by talking about its own achievements, and pro-people policies.
Mayawati has also sought a high level investigation into charges against some BJP leaders and relatives of government officials having purchased land in Ayodhya soon after the court awarded the disputed land for the construction of a Ram Temple. “The Supreme Court also intervened in this matter. If something like this has happened, then the Centre and state government should take up the matter seriously and cancel any fraudulent land deal,” she said.
She said that her party did not support the recently passed election law amendment bill, saying that this was an important issue and it was the responsibility of the Centre to ensure that there was a meaningful discussion on it in both houses of the Parliament. "However, it was brought in a hurry and our party does not support it," she said.
