Launching a scathing attck on BJP turncoats, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the small-time leaders who ditched the saffron party are now struggling to secure seats. In an interview to IANS, he claimed that the saffron party will win 80 per cent of the seats in the state Assembly polls. “We are fighting the poll on the planks of nationalism, development and good governance. Those who have left the party are finding it difficult to secure a seat. If these people had a mass base, then they should have fought from their traditional seats, like I am contesting. All of them are leaving their seats and running,” the chief minister said.

Responding to the charge that the Yogi government takes action against criminals on the basis of their caste, the chief minister asked, “Who has given tickets to professional criminals in Kairana, Rampur and Mau?” He further claimed that SP is no longer Samajwadi, but it has become ‘mafiawadi’, ‘dangawadi’ and ‘parivaarwadi’ (the party which supports the mafia, riots and dynastic politics).