No difference between Congress and BSP, says BJP

New Delhi/Patna, Feb 5 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today hit out at Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Congress in Uttar Pradesh, for their failure to address the problems of the common man, saying that there is no apparent difference between the two political rivals.

BJP leader Balbir Punj, while addressing mediapersons, here today, said: "In the present context in Uttar Pradesh, there is not much difference between the hand (symbol of Congress) and elephant (symbol of BSP). However, there is a huge difference between what they say and do and the record of both the parties in the development of Uttar Pradesh has almost been the same."

Punj also blamed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, daughter of Congress President, Sonia Gandhi, for encouraging child labour, during the election campaign for her brother, Rahul Gandhi, who is vying to win majority in the battlefield of Uttar Pradesh.

He added that the members of the Gandhi family came out only during the election season and promised development in their agenda, with a motive to woo voters, but unfortunately the condition of the state did not improved at all.

"If you see in the present context, then the members of the Gandhi family are visible in Uttar Pradesh during the election season and there are at least two constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, which are under the rule of the Congress for decades. If you see the development in these states, it is really pathetic and saying it again and again that if we come to power, then we will change the state, is all a fraud," said Punj.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson, Shahnawaz Hussain, asserted that his party would definitely form the government in Uttar Pradesh, as abject poverty, unemployment and steep inequality in the society have been ailing the state under the present government.

"They see the lotus in their dreams too, but their allies like BSP and SP and they have all done match-fixing in Uttar Pradesh. Anyway, there has been a lot of campaigning for Rahul Gandhi in Uttar Pradesh, just like it was in Bihar and they will get the same number of seats like they did in Bihar, maybe one or two more than that number. So, the BJP will form the government in Uttar Pradesh," said Hussain.

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.

Polls in Uttar Pradesh will be conducted in seven phases between February 8 and March 3, and the vote counting will take place on March 6.

Uttar Pradesh will elect a new 403-member state assembly in March, and the poll results will broadly indicate trends for the 2014 general elections.

In the fray are the BJP, Congress, state ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party (SP). (ANI)