UP Election Polls: CM Yogi Says, "It's 80 VS 20 Fight Now"

The numbers cited by the CM Yogi correspond to the ratio of Hindus to Muslims in UP

Lucknow: Months ahead of the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Election polls, the state's Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has called the election in India's most dense state an "80 versus 20 battle", in a highly controversial comment seen to imply a religious divide.

The numbers cited by the BJP's Yogi Adityanath roughly correspond to the ratio of Hindus to Muslims in UP, where assembly elections will be held next month.

During an event organised by a private news channel in state capital Lucknow, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the statement when he was asked a question about Brahmin votes in UP.

The UP CM also added, "The contest has moved much ahead," the saffron-robed Chief Minister replied. "The fight is now 80 versus 20."

After the statement delivered by the CM, the host questioned, "Owaisi says it is 19 per cent." Asaduddin Owaisi heads the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen or AIMIM.

Yogi Adityanath cut short the question by the host.

"80 per cent is those who are supporters of nationalism, good governance and development. Such people will vote for the BJP and those who are against this and supporters of mafias and criminals, anti-farmer and village, such 15-20 people will take a different path. So, in this 80-20 fight, it is the lotus that will show the way," the Chief Minister said, referring to the BJP's election symbol.

As the UP elections are on the verge to commence, every party is targeting and slamming each other. For the last few months, the Chief Minister has been using "Abba Jaan" or "people who say "Abba Jaan" in what was seen as a barb against Muslims and his predecessor Akhilesh Yadav, the Samajwadi Party chief.