India: UP Elections 2022: BJP’s two-pronged approach

• Ahead of Uttar Pradesh Election 2022, the BJP has chalked out a two-pronged approach to retain power in the state.
• While the opposition has been raising the issues to keep the COVID-19 wounds alive, the protest by farmer unions has continued unabated at the Delhi-UP border for around 9 months now. While the Centre has maintained that it’s ready to make changes to the contentious farm laws, it has ruled out repealing the laws which have been put on hold by the Supreme Court.
• While Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inducted 7 ministers from Uttar Pradesh in his cabinet keeping in mind caste as well as regional representation in mind, the ministers were also asked by the party high-command to carry out ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’ in a move to reach out to people and mitigate the COVID-19 wounds.
• The ministers not only reached out to the people but also made them aware of the various initiatives taken by the Modi government during the second wave of COVID-19 in an effort to counter the narrative set by the opposition.
• In another move to counter the farmers’ protest, the party has planned a statewide farmer outreach program especially keeping in mind the impact of ongoing protests.
• Multiple news reports have said that the BJP will undertake a statewide ‘Kisan Sampark Yatra’ under which ‘kisan chaupals’ will also be organised.
• Also, PM Modi had released the 9th instalment of Kisan Samman Nidhi on 9 Aug 21. It may be recalled that Uttar Pradesh is one of the biggest beneficiary states of the scheme. Around 3.6 million farmers of Uttar Pradesh had received IDR2,000 each as part of the 9th instalment of Kisan Samman Nidhi Aug 21.
• Last week, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while speaking in the UP Assembly had informed that over INR1tr was paid to farmers towards sugarcane arrears in the last four years.

External Link : https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/up-elections-2022-bjps-two-pronged-approach-to-blunt-farm-laws-impact-heal-covid-wounds/2316039/