After its falling out with the SP-BSP, the Congress has fielded a strong candidate in Saharanpur and the alliance fears the split vote may allow BJP's sitting MP Raghav Lakhanpal to win again
Coming together in a massive show of strength in Western Uttar Pradesh's Deoband on Sunday, leaders of the Grand Alliance — Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Rashtriya Lok Dal — told their supporters in no uncertain terms that the vote cannot be split due to the Congress. They also flayed the PM for his SARAB (liquor) remark against the grand alliance.
"Don't split your votes. The Congress is not strong enough to give a tough fight to BJP. Only the Mahagathbandhan can fight the BJP," said BSP supremo Mayawati, specifying that her remarks were particularly for the "people of Muslim community".
Deoband — famous as the second topmost Dar-ul-Uloom — falls next to Saharanpur city where PM Narendra Modi addressed a mammoth rally just two days ago.
After its falling out with the SP-BSP, the Congress has fielded a strong candidate in Saharanpur and the alliance fears the split vote may allow BJP's sitting MP Raghav Lakhanpal to win again.
The three party chiefs attacked both PM Modi and Congress on various counts and leading the charge, RLD chief Ajit Singh said, "What has Prime Minister Modi done in five years? He wasn't talking about your achche din, but his own achche din." He also criticised the PM over the pending Rs 10,000 crore dues to the sugarcane farmers in the state.
On PM Modi's "Sarab" (liquor) remark, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said, "It looks like the people who talk about liquor are on a heady trip of some kind. Our alliance is not a toxic concoction but a force of change. It is an alliance that will bring about a new Prime Minister."
Following that, Mayawati said, "BJP will lose this election because of policies inspired by hatred.. especially their chowkidar campaign... no matter how much the chhote, bade chowkidars try, the BJP will not win," she said.
Describing Modi government's schemes as hawa-hawai (lofty), Mayawati said, "Thousands of crores have been wasted. That's taxpayers money, it could have been used for the poor. If PM was serious about welfare of poor, he would not have inaugurated schemes after poll dates, but performed in five years of his tenure."
Pulling up Congress in the same vein, Mayawati said, "The Nyay scheme is not a stable solution for removing poverty. Our government, instead of giving minimum income support, will give employment to poor people."
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