LISTEN: Leaked audio clip of BJP President Amit Shah wooing Jats

In this leaked audio clip, BJP national president Amit Shah is heard appealing on basis of caste to Jat community leaders to have second thoughts on deserting the BJP in the ongoing Uttar Pradesh election. Shah asks the gathering what the ‘Biradari’ (community; in this case Jat community) would gain by ensuring the victory of the SP-Congress alliance and tells the gathering that if BJP loses the election in Uttar Pradesh, both the party and the ‘Biradari’ would be losers. The audio has been circulating on social media.

The Huffington Post reported that at a press conference in Lucknow on February 12, a journalist asked Amit Shah about the viral audio and Shah shot back that "Lots of things go viral. You will also go viral."

Several reports have suggested that Jats, concentrated in western Uttar Pradesh, are unhappy with the BJP and determined to defeat it in the UP assembly polls underway. A nervous Amit Shah made last minute attempts including a late night meeting to appeal to the community.