BJP admits it is losing ground in Hindi heartland, Rajnath says it may lose 20 seats in UP

In a detailed interview with The Economic Times, Union Minister Rajnath Singh commented on various important issues related to his party, the BJP including the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and his party’s election strategy in Uttar Pradesh. Rajnath Singh admitted that the BJP government is facing anti-incumbency in Chhattigarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, though he was confident that the party will win assembly elections in these states.

When asked whether the grand alliance will make it difficult for the BJP and PM Modi to come back to power in the Centre, he claimed that no body would want a ‘khichdi’ government and hence the grand alliance against the BJP will not cause any damage to the party’s performance in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

On PM Modi’s stoic silence over Rafale controversy, the Union Home Minister said there is no need for the prime minister to respond “ If some non-relevant people speak anything.”

Reacting to the question over the controversies the Yogi government of Uttar Pradesh is trapped in, he claimed that Yogi Adityanath has made big efforts to improve the law and order situation in the state. “ I think the CM is doing things honestly and is performing well,” he added.

On whether the constant change of names of the places in Uttar Pradesh seems to be causing communal overtones, Rajnath Singh’s response was a little weird and off the mark. “It may seem so due to his saffron attire but aisa kuch hai nahin (no such thing is there),” he said.