If you had any doubt that the Uttar Pradesh election will be fought on an overt communal agenda, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has spelt it out for you.
Yogi Adityanath has called the UP election "80 versus 20 battle". UP has roughly 80% Hindus and 20% Muslim voters.
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The chief minister made the controversial remark at an event organised by a private news channel in Lucknow when he was asked a question about Brahmin votes in UP.
"The contest has moved much ahead," Yogi replied, adding: "The fight is now 80 versus 20". He said that 80% of UP, meaning Hindus, are with the BJP, while 15-20% will take a different path.
The UP CM has in the last few months made several overtly communal statements using terms like "abba jaan". The BJP has been constantly attacking the main challenger Samajwadi Party and has been trying to paint it as a pro-Muslim party.
Uttar Pradesh will go to the polls in 7 phases starting February 10 till March 7. The results of the election will be out on March 10.