BJP could have gained if Uma Bharati was projected as chief ministerial candidate: Swami Chinmayana

Shahjahanpur, Mar 3 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Swami Chinmayananda said on Saturday that the party would have gained if it had projected Uma Bharati as its chief ministerial candidate ahead of elections in Uttar Pradesh.

"I would like to say that if BJP would have earlier projected Uma Bharati's name as the chief minister candidate then the election results would have been astonishing and may be BJP's government would have been formed in the state. But the way there was no unanimity among the state leaders on the name of Uma Bharati, it would have an impact on the outcome of the elections and the party might incur minor loss," said Chinmayananda.

Chinmayananda further said that leaders like Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Shahnawaz Hussain were promoted instead of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi during the elections as strategy to attract Muslim voters.

"I won't agree that Narendra Modi didn't come. I think that Modi was not seen of any help in these elections because the political strategists believed that the Muslims might vote for them in these elections and they were very enthusiastic about this. That is why leaders like Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Shahnawaz Hussain were promoted," he said.

"They were in a fear that if Modi would be involved in the election campaign then Muslims might collectively vote against them. Probably this is the only reason they didn't involved Modi," he added.

Chinmayananda also said that he the youth played a pivotal role in the recent elections.

"People are excited about the elections in the state this time, though there is no craze of any party but still the youth is excited about the elections and its impact has been seen in the voters' turnout percentage. Record voting has been seen this time. The excitement among the youth to bring change in system has drawn positive response. I think that this time, those parties will benefit who have brought forward new faces," he said.

He also added that Congress is likely to incur loss as it had also failed to project any one person as the chief minister of the state.

"As far as Rahul Gandhi is concerned he has put in a lot of efforts. But the Congress is yet to decide who will be the chief minister of the state and it is obvious that Rahul Gandhi won't become the chief minister of the state. He is just here for the election campaign. That is why there is no attraction for Congress. People are attracted only to two parties, which is the Bharatiya Janata Party and Samajwadi party. I think that these two parties would benefit," added Chinmayananda.

The sixth phase polling, which was held on Tuesday, saw a turnout of about 60.08 percent.

Uttar Pradesh is India's most populous state and provides the biggest single bloc of seats in the Indian parliament.

The state polls are also being viewed as an opportunity for India's major parties to re-establish or strengthen their footholds in the country's fifth largest state.

Results of the elections would be declared on March 6. (ANI)