BJP Minister Blasts SP for Pre‑emptive Excuses Ahead of UP Legislative Council Vote

On a sweltering Friday in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh’s cabinet minister Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary took a moment to jab at the Samajwadi Party (SP) while voting was still underway for the state’s Legislative Council seats. He reminded everyone that this round of voting is being done on ballot papers, not the electronic voting machines (EVMs) that have dominated headlines in recent elections.

“The opposition can’t hide behind the machines this time,” Chaudhary said, his tone a mix of confidence and a hint of sarcasm. “They’re already rehearsing what they’ll say after the results come in.” He went on to suggest that the SP, led by Akhilesh Yadav, has started lining up accusations against constitutional bodies, the police and even the administration itself – a pre‑emptive defence, in his view.

Speaking to ANI, the minister highlighted the BJP’s work in the education sector, especially for teachers and graduates, who are voting for eleven seats in the council. “We’ve reached out to our teacher and graduate brothers and sisters with an extensive campaign,” he said. “Based on the response, I can say with certainty that the BJP will win all 11 seats with a big margin.” The remarks were peppered with a few informal asides, like a quick chuckle when he noted that the SP’s past record on education had left “a lot of teachers a bit disgruntled.”

Chaudhary didn’t stop at the ballot issue. He also took a swipe at Akhilesh Yadav’s recent meeting with veteran SP leader Azam Khan, who is currently behind bars. “Now that they need Muslim votes, they suddenly remember Azam Khan,” the minister quipped. “Why didn’t they think of him earlier?” He accused the SP of “vote‑bank politics” and suggested the party had abandoned dignity for short‑term gains.

The conversation turned to national security when Congress leader Ajay Rai raised concerns about the Varanasi Air Show. Chaudhary brushed it off, saying the Congress habitually drags the armed forces into politics. “Our forces protect 140 crore citizens. Using them as political props is deeply unfortunate,” he said, adding a brief pause before moving on.

Finally, the minister addressed a planned opposition march against the Special Investment Region (SIR) project. He labeled the protestors “self‑servicing forces” and even hinted at foreign influence, claiming they wanted “to create anarchy and derail development.” He wrapped up with a nod to the BJP’s “10‑year report card” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, emphasizing transparency and progress.

While the SP has not yet responded publicly, Chaudhary’s comments set the tone for what he expects to be a clean sweep for the BJP in the council elections – and a chorus of excuses from the opposition if the results don’t go their way.