The Shiv Sena on Wednesday targeted the BJP, claiming that instead of tackling the pandemic it is focusing on Uttar Pradesh elections and holding meetings to improve its image to avoid a West Bengal-like performance. The Saamana editorial said that after the BJP failed to win the West Bengal Assembly polls, PM Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and UP CM Yogi Adityanath held a meeting to discuss ‘Mission Uttar Pradesh’. “It seems as if all the issues in the country are resolved and the only work left is to declare the elections, hold big rallies and roadshows to win the polls. The elections are inevitable in parliamentary democracy but is the present situation suitable for it?” it asked. The editorial further said that media reports on the dead bodies in the Ganga dented the image of the BJP and questioned the efficiency of the Modi and UP governments. “Now, the BJP is working on how to improve its image and win the UP polls,” it said, adding that the dismal performance in the UP panchayat polls is also a cause of worry for the BJP. The editorial said that the UP CM was the BJP's star campaigner in West Bengal but there was no religious or social division in the name of Hindutva. “Now, everyone has started working to avoid a West Bengal-like performance in UP. The elections are getting priority over the fight against Covid and the lives of people. The sky will not fall if the elections are postponed. But there is a need to pay attention to the fight against the pandemic. Otherwise, the river Ganga will be a carrier of Hindu dead bodies and that will defame the country in the world,” it said.
