Yogi Adityanath on BJP's loss in UP: I wasn't allowed to campaign

After the Bharatiya Janata Party suffered a major blow in the politically-crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, its MP Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday blamed the Samajwadi Party government for not allowing him to campaign for the by-polls in 11 assembly seats.

"The way police and administration have been politicised ...I was not allowed to address election meetings and obstacles were created," he told reporters in Gorakhpur.

"We have won both Noida and Lucknow where I campaigned," he said, adding his focus was on "development and Hindutva issues" during electioneering.

The BJP's star campaigner said, "Campaigning is important in any election, but results depend upon how tickets are distributed and what is the organisational structure. I was not allowed to address public meetings and it is surprising that how the Election Commission did not take it seriously," he said.

Adityanath said, "I feel that a review of ticket distribution and strategy is important. Whether it is victory or defeat, it motivates a person to introspect. We will review everything and talk to the high command." He accused the state government of politicising the police and the administration.

Of the 11 assembly seats that went to polls, the BJP won only three. The party had won all these seats last time. Adityanath said he was allowed to campaign only for three days and during that period too the state government created problems for him.

The MP from Gorakhpur was not allowed by the authorities to address election meetings in the run-up to the by-polls and was booked for allegedly invoking religion while addressing a rally in support of the BJP candidate in Noida.

He accused the state government of influencing the outcome of the by-polls and said, "State ministers were openly flouting the model code and misusing the official machinery."

After a near-total sweep in Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP bit the dust in eight of the 11 assembly seats where by-polls were held Saturday. Besides Lucknow East and Noida, the party won Saharanpur (city).

Meanwhile, state BJP President Laxmi Kant Bajpai accepted the party's defeat in the by-elections and said the reasons behind it would be reviewed. "The responsibility of defeat is mine and my team's. The reasons behind the defeat will be reviewed. It has given us a lesson for Vidhan Sabha polls," he said.

Image: BJP MP Yogi Adityanath