Voters in UP will choose BJP, says Swaraj

Lucknow, Feb 17 (ANI): Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushma Swaraj on Friday expressed confidence that the voters in Uttar Pradesh would chose her party ahead of the other political outfits in the state assembly polls.

Hitting out at the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the opposition Samajwadi Party (SP) in the state, Swaraj assured the voters that the BJP would be the best alternative.

"People brought the Bahujan Samaj Party in power after being irked by the Samajwadi Party. Why would they go back to the same party when they will get neat and clean governance from a party which had ruled in the state for ten years and was also in the centre for six years in the past?" Swaraj asked.

"When they can see their future leader, then they would surely choose that. After meeting people in Uttar Pradesh during the election campaigns and public rallies, I have this strong feeling that they will chose us," she added.

Swaraj also clarified the BJP's stance on the welfare of Muslims, but maintained that the party was still opposed to raising the minority reservation levels.

"I have never said that we are opposing the reservations. However, I have clearly said that if the government would make a police for the welfare of the Muslims, then we would support that. But we cannot back the reservation on the basis of religion and such schemes were introduced in the states where even we were in power for the betterment of their education and to increase the level of their livelihood," said Swaraj.

"But neither have we given reservation for religion, nor would we support it," she added.

The Congress Party is at the moment leaving no stones unturned in garnering the support of the Muslim voters in Uttar Pradesh.

The Uttar Pradesh polls are being viewed as an opportunity for major parties to re-establish their foothold in the country's fifth largest and most populous state. new 403-member state assembly will be elected in March. The poll results will broadly indicate trends for the 2014 general elections. (ANI)