GORAKHPUR: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath cast his vote in the legislative council elections on Saturday morning in Gorakhpur and claiming victory said BJP will finally achieve a majority in the Upper House after about four decades.
"After almost four decades, a ruling party will also have a majority in the legislative council. Earlier, Samajwadi Party used to block development and welfare programs riding on its numbers in the legislative council. After victory, we will be able to work for farmers, labourers, women's security and their empowerment and youth," Yogi added.
As many as 36 Vidhan Parishad seats had fallen vacant and BJP candidates have already been elected on nine seats unopposed. The CM expressed hope that BJP will win all the remaining 27 seats also.
"Like 2017, BJP again won more than two-third majority in the recent assembly election and formed a government. After four decades, a ruling party will also get a majority in the legislative council too," he said.
"We used to face challenges as SP played a negative role and obstructed development and welfare programmes. I hope we will get a majority in council also and will be able to speed up development and public welfare," Yogi added.
CM said the policy of zero tolerance against mafia will continue but the dwelling of the poor won't be razed. "In the regime before 2017, criminals enjoying protection of the ruling party captured public land and land of the poor and businessmen. We constituted an anti-land mafia force which has so far seized property worth Rs 2,500 crore of mafia. Instructions have been given that no hut of the poor will be razed till alternate residence is provided to them," he added.
On a question of hacking of the CM office's official twitter handle, Yogi said agencies are investigating.
Former Union minister Shiv Pratap Shukla, mayor Sitaram Jaiswal, MLA Vipin Singh also cast their votes.
MP Ravi Kishan ran towards the polling booth to cast his vote and his video went viral on social media.
CM Yogi said special programmes will be organized in Ayodhya to celebrate Lord Ram's birthday on Ramnavmi.
