UP Polls: PM Modi Hits Out At Oppn In Kannauj, Says Their Candidates Are 'Fighting Elections From Jail'

The speech comes ahead of the second phase polling in Uttar Pradesh which is slated to be held on February 14.

New Delhi: Taking a dig at the "dynastic parties", Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday alleged they have changed the essence of democracy as their mantra is a "government of the family, by the family and for the family".

 PM Modi was addressing a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Kannauj when he said: "The first phase of elections has confirmed that BJP will come into power again. Do not divide your vote on the basis of community or caste".

Hitting out that the opposition, PM Modi remarked: "After the first round of voting in UP, dynasts are sleepless and unable to dream".

"Across the world, a democratic government is defined as a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. The dynastic parties of our country have changed this essence of democracy. Their mantra is a government of the family, by the family, and for the family," he jibed.

In what can be seen as a salvo at Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party, PM Modi said: "Most of their (opposition) candidates are history-sheeter. Their condition is such that some of their candidates are fighting the elections from the jail".

SP has fielded Azam Khan from his traditional Rampur seat. The parliamentarian is lodged in Sitapur Jail since February 2020.

His son, Abdullah Azam Khan, who is out on bail after spending 23 months in jail, is also contesting from the Suar Tanda assembly constituency. Nahid Hasan, in the fray from the Kairana seat, is in jail after being charged under the stringent Gangsters Act.

In his speech, the Prime Minister stated that the perfume industry of Kannauj "has become a victim to politics of extreme 'parivaarwaad'. They (Samajwadi Party) have defamed the perfume business here with their corruption, by their exploits. They linked perfume with corruption."

"We are working to make this perfume a global brand. We are working to take Kannauj's perfume to the world," he added, as quoted by ANI.

Narendra Modi further claimed: "Every ordinary voter of UP understands that only the BJP government has the medicine for treatment of rioters and goons".

The speech comes ahead of the second phase polling in Uttar Pradesh which is slated to be held on February 14 (Monday). Following this, polling for the UP assembly election will take place on February 20, 23, 27, and March 3 and 7.

Kannauj, Farrukhabad, and Auraiya for which PM Modi was addressing the rally will go to polls in the third phase on February 20. 

The counting of votes and result announcement for all five poll-bound states is scheduled for March 10. 

(With Agency Inputs)