Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday challenged the Opposition to hold a discussion in Parliament over allegations of vote theft, saying the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was prepared to respond to every
point raised by its political rivals. Addressing the BJP’s Uttar Pradesh State Working Committee meeting in Lucknow, Shah said the Opposition was blaming the umpire after losing the match.
“Having lost the match, they are now blaming the umpire, alleging that votes were stolen. The BJP is prepared for a discussion in Parliament. Let’s convene a special session. We are ready to address every single point. Let’s discuss in Parliament,” Shah said.
On October 27, Rahul Gandhi had intensified his attack on Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that votes were being stolen “right from the top level” and that poor people were being deliberately removed from electoral rolls.
Gandhi said the Opposition was united on the issue and would continue its agitation until Gyanesh Kumar resigned or Prime Minister Narendra Modi removed him from the post.
Shah’s remarks came during his visit to Lucknow to attend the BJP’s state working committee meeting, which is being held as the party prepares its organisational roadmap and election strategy ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
The Union Home Minister arrived in the Uttar Pradesh capital on Friday and was welcomed at the airport by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other senior BJP leaders.
Shah, Adityanath and Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak were among the prominent leaders attending the meeting.
The gathering brings together the BJP’s senior state leadership, district presidents and key office-bearers.
Discussions are expected to focus on strengthening the party’s organisational structure, reviewing grassroots outreach and setting priorities for the upcoming Assembly elections.
BJP LEADERS OUTLINE 2027 ELECTION TARGET
Ahead of Shah’s address, Uttar Pradesh minister Danish Azad Ansari said the party would work towards implementing its vision on the ground and securing another victory in the 2027 Assembly elections.
“Today there is a big meeting of the executive committee. Whatever BJP’s vision is, we will move forward to implement it on the ground and win with a full and thumping majority in 2027. In 2027, the lotus is going to bloom again in Uttar Pradesh. The Samajwadi Party will be completely wiped out in 2027,” Ansari said.
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak also highlighted the importance of the meeting, saying Shah would inaugurate the proceedings and provide guidance to the party’s organisational structure in the state.
“Today, the BJP is holding its Working Committee meeting in Uttar Pradesh. Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the proceedings and provide fresh energy and guidance to the organisational structure within the state,” Pathak said.
The meeting follows a gathering of the BJP’s state office-bearers at the party headquarters on Thursday, where the agenda, key issues and arrangements for Friday’s meeting were finalised.
CONGRESS QUESTIONS BJP AHEAD OF MEETING
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Aradhana Misra-Mona criticised the BJP ahead of the state working committee meeting and called on the party to review its performance in the recent Legislative Council elections.
Misra-Mona said the BJP should assess the electoral outcome and focus on issues such as unemployment, inflation, credibility and law and order in Uttar Pradesh.
“They should determine their strategy. After all, it is their own party executive meeting. However, they also need to reflect on the recent MLC elections, which serve as a clear mandate against the BJP,” she said.
The Congress leader further claimed that the people of Uttar Pradesh had made up their minds about the 2027 Assembly elections.
“They can devise countless strategies, but the people of Uttar Pradesh have already made up their minds: the formation of an ‘INDIA’ alliance government in 2027 is now a certainty,” Misra-Mona said.
The BJP is preparing to seek a third consecutive term in Uttar Pradesh, having won the 2017 and 2022 Assembly elections under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Friday’s state working committee meeting is expected to lay the groundwork for the party’s organisational activities and preparations across the state ahead of the 2027 polls.
