Dig at SP, vow to return for 3rd term: Inside Amit Shah's meet with UP BJP leaders

Amit Shah attacked the Samajwadi Party and Congress at the UP BJP executive committee meeting. His remarks framed the Ayodhya firing and electoral victories as a rallying call.

In Short

• Shah credited party workers for victories in the 2017 and 2022 elections
• He cited 312 seats and 40 per cent vote share in 2017
• Workers were urged to emulate Arjuna's single-minded focus before the next election

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress while addressing BJP workers in Uttar Pradesh, invoking the 1990 firing on Ram devotees in Ayodhya under the Mulayam Singh Yadav government and asserting that the BJP would return to power in the state for a third consecutive term.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrives to inaugurate UP BJP executive committee meeting in Lucknow. Addressing the party workers, Shah called them the "masters" of the BJP and greeted them with a respectful "Ram-Ram". He credited the workers for the party's electoral victories in Uttar Pradesh, recalling its performance in the 2017 and 2022 Assembly elections.

Referring to the firing on Ram Bhakts in Ayodhya, Shah said that on this very day, Mulayam Singh Yadav had ordered indiscriminate firing on devotees of Lord Ram and BJP workers.

"The waters of the Saryu turned red with the blood of Ram Bhakts," he said, targeting Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav over his ambition to form the government in Uttar Pradesh.

"Akhilesh babu, with what face do you even speak of forming a government?" Shah said, adding that the BJP government was as firmly established as Angad's foot and could not be dislodged.

BJP WORKERS CREDITED FOR 2017, 2022 VICTORIES

Shah said he had come to acknowledge the contribution of BJP workers, whom he credited with securing the party's electoral victories in Uttar Pradesh.

"I have come today to acknowledge you, the party workers. It is you who secured a record number of seats for us in Uttar Pradesh," he said.

Recalling the 2017 Assembly elections, Shah said the BJP won 312 seats with a 40 per cent vote share. He added that the party secured 41 per cent of the votes in the 2022 elections and won seats well beyond the majority mark.

Urging workers to prepare for the next Assembly elections, Shah invoked the example of Arjuna from the Mahabharata, asking them to remain focused on their target.

"I urge you today: gird your loins and, like Arjuna, keep your focus fixed solely on the eye of the fish. We will return to power with an overwhelming majority once again," he said.

Shah said the time had come to form a BJP government in Uttar Pradesh for the third consecutive term. He also reminded party leaders that every BJP leader was, first and foremost, a party worker.

SHAH RECALLS KALYAN SINGH'S ROLE IN AYODHYA

Revisiting the events surrounding the demolition of the disputed structure in Ayodhya, Shah recalled former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh's role during the Kar Seva.

He said Kalyan Singh had allowed the Kar Seva to take place in Ayodhya without worrying about the survival of his government, which eventually led to the demolition of the disputed structure.

WE ARE NOW THE WORLD'S LARGEST PARTY: SHAH'S DIG AT RAHUL

Shah also turned his attack towards Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, drawing a comparison between the Congress's electoral performance in 1984 and the BJP's political growth over the years.

"Rahul ji, let me remind you that back in 1984, when your party won only two seats, your father famously remarked, 'Hum do, hamare do'," Shah said.

Addressing Rahul Gandhi as "Rahul baba", Shah said the two parties had been friends at one point, but the BJP had since emerged as the world's largest political party.

He further pointed out that the NDA was in power in 22 states, while accusing Rahul Gandhi of remaining fixated on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

SHAH LISTS BJP'S ELECTORAL WINS AFTER 2024

Shah said Rahul Gandhi was not being given a complete picture of the BJP's electoral performance by his supporters and offered his own assessment of the party's victories after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

He cited the BJP's victory in Odisha, where the party formed a government with an absolute majority, and its return to power in Arunachal Pradesh.

He also referred to the BJP forming a government in Haryana with an absolute majority and its highest-ever number of seats in the state.

Shah further highlighted the party's performance in Maharashtra, where it secured the highest number of seats, and its governments in Bihar, Delhi and Puducherry.

Citing Assam, Shah said the BJP had scored a hat-trick by winning 100 seats. He also claimed that the party had completely wiped out Mamata Banerjee's presence in Bengal.

Shah's remarks came as he urged BJP workers to prepare for another electoral victory in Uttar Pradesh, reiterating his confidence that the party would return to power with an overwhelming majority.

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