The Hindu : National : Poll results sign of things to come in U.P.: Rajnath

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Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007
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National

National

Poll results sign of things to come in U.P.: Rajnath

Special Correspondent

"It isn't anti-incumbency factor that was responsible for the results, but the work done by the BJP previously"

— Photo: V. Sudershan

SAVOURING VICTORY: BJP leaders Ravishankar Prasad (left) and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi offering sweets to party president Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on Tuesday.

NEW DELHI: Elated over the favourable poll outcome in Punjab and Uttarakhand, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday said it would have an impact on the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.

The results were as per the party's expectations, BJP president Rajnath Singh told reporters here. "Uttarakhand was once part of Uttar Pradesh. And the poll results indicate the public mood and this is a good message for the BJP." The Congress had failed to fulfil its promises and the public had seen that, he said.

It was not the anti-incumbency factor that was responsible for the poll results, but the work done by the BJP previously. "When they compared the two Governments, they found that the BJP was the only party that could provide good governance."

Briefing reporters at a customary meeting, BJP parliamentary party spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra said the results were a mandate against the Centre and issues such as inflation, the "deteriorating" internal security situation and the policy of Muslim appeasement played a decisive role.

The results indicated that the people had rejected the Government policies as also the "halo" created around Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

"The Congress president's popularity graph has taken a beating and she should take it as a personal defeat," Mr. Malhotra said.

The BJP has made major gains in Punjab. It has raised its tally from two MLAs in the previous Assembly to 19, making it a major political force to reckon with.

Even though the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP combine has a comfortable majority, the Congress has emerged as the single largest party. In Uttarakhand, the BJP has increased its strength from 19 to 30.

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