Amit Shah: BJP did not break Bihar alliance, poach Gujarat MLAs

Shah said he does not have information about the three MLCs (two from SP and one from BSP) who had resigned from the UP Legislative Council. “Whosoever came to the BJP from other parties, had done so during elections. But, a misinformation campaign (kuprachaar) was carried out,” he said about allegations that the party had triggered defections in other parties.

Maintaining that the BJP-led central government did not try to make any leader defect in the previous Akhilesh regime, Shah said: “Political workers have the right to analyse the work of the government before elections and choose any party… There is a difference between both things… this is not Indira Gandhi pattern.”

He also ruled out speculation that he would shift to the central government as a minister after he is elected to the Rajya Sabha. “There is no question of doing so. I have the responsibility of being the party president. I am happy, and I am working wholeheartedly. You people (media) please do not push,” Shah told mediapersons.

On speculations of state BJP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya being sent to the Centre, Shah said: “Maurya will work full-time for the Uttar Pradesh government, as soon as the new state BJP chief is decided.”

Asked about Shivpal Yadav joining the BJP, Shah said he has not received any proposal from the SP MLA regarding the same.

Shah claimed that no political meaning should be attached to his visit to the house of a Yadav BJP worker, Sonu Yadav, in Lucknow. On Sunday, Shah, along with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and both the deputy chief ministers, had visited Yadav’s house for lunch. Shah said he had had food at the homes of Dalit workers earlier as well.

Praising the Adityanath government, Shah said it was doing a good job. On the law and order situation, he claimed that the way in which the administration has been politicised, it will take some time for things to improve. “But, I assure the people of Uttar Pradesh that rule of law will be established,” he added.

Shah mentioned that there has been an improvement in the energy sector after the Adityanath government came to power. “There has been a large scale purchase of wheat and payment of dues to sugarcane farmers have also been ensured… Under the SP and BSP governments, payment of dues to the cane farmers was not made due to collusion with sugar mill owners,” he added.

On BJP’s commitment to construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, Shah said: “We will construct Ram temple as per the provisions of law or through dialogue.”  He added that after touring several parts of the country, he was now sure that BJP will form the government in 2019 with more strength.