Ahead of the fifth phase of the ongoing Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today insisted that the BJP would come back to power with an absolute majority in the state, as well as emerging victorious in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Hitting out at the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party, the CM said that they had bulldozers for “those who ate the poor’s rations”.

“Haathi slipping here and there…cycle can be easily punctured…Those who ate the poor’s ration, we’ve bulldozers for them. Power of bulldozer is such that it’s used for construction and to raze illegal possession of mafias, corrupt ministers,” the Chief Minister remarked during a public event in Ambedkar Nagar. In a symbolic interpretation of his remarks, several bulldozers with the phrase “Baba’s bulldozer” emblazoned on banners were stationed at the venue in Katka.

“When we come back in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, most of these ‘pariwarwadis‘ will be seen offering ‘Kar Seva’ with Ram devotees in Ayodhya,” he jibed. Those who had opened fire at the devotees of Lord Ram were now moving around with Lord Hanuman’s mace, he added in an apparent dig at SP chief Akhilesh Yadav. The remark pertains to the 1990 incident in Ayodhya during which the police had opened fire at ‘kar sevaks‘ marching towards the city. More recently, Yadav had raised a mace offered by supporters during a poll rally.

“The elephant’s (party symbol) stomach was so big that it ate the entire state’s ration,” he added while talking about the BSP.

The UP polls are being held in seven phases, with votes being counted on March 10. The fifth phase of voting will be held on February 27.