By IANS,
New Delhi : BJP president Nitin Gadkari Tuesday blamed polarisation between regional parties in Uttar Pradesh for the party’s below-expectation performance in the state, but said the party was happy with the overall results in other states.
Talking to reporters in the national capital, the BJP president also said that the people of Uttar Pradesh had voted against the Congress.
“In Uttar Pradesh, there was polarisation between two parties… for removing the Bahujan Samaj Party government, the people voted for the regional party that could throw the BSP out of power,” Gadkari told reporters. The BJP was expecting to win on 80 seats in the state, a party leader had said. However, it has won 39 seats so far.
“In Punjab we have created history with our alliance with (Shiromani) Akali Dal coming back in power… In Goa, corruption was a major issue, our tally so far is a great success… and I also expect we will win in Uttarakhand,” he said.
The BJP president said there was an overall mood against the Congress.
“Majority of people have voted against Congress and UPA, on issues like corruption and price rise,” he said. “The Congress has gone back from its performance in the Lok Sabha elections.”
Picking on Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, who had campaigned hard for the party, Gadkari said: “I don’t want to comment on any leadership, but the Congress pinned high hopes on Rahul Gandhi and made it an issue of prestige.”
“Congress has got a rude shock with the results… even in areas like Amethi and Rae Bareli, which have been stronghold of Congress since Pt. (Jawaharlal) Nehru’s time they have lost,” he said.
The BJP president said the party will analyze the shortcomings in Uttar Pradesh, and prepare for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
“We believe these polls will give us strength. We will evaluate the factors in Uttar Pradesh, and will prepare for 2014 (Lok Sabha polls) with all our energy,” he said.
He also said that BJP was likely to open its account in Manipur where it was leading on two seats.