BJP sure to win in 2019, you prepare for 2024: Yogi Adityanath's dig at Congress after Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh election victories

NEW DELHI: The BJP's victories in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh have added to the party's confidence. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday taunted the opposition parties, by effectively declaring victory for his party in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Speaking to reporters in Lucknow, Adityanath heaped praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah. "The victories in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh have proven that Modiji's leadership is glorious. The country have approved of the revolutionary steps taken towards complete reform by the honourable Prime Minister. These steps will take the country closer to becoming an economic superpower," he said.

He also used the opportunity to take a dig at the Congress, saying the BJP's victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha election was now a 'certainty', and that the Congress should start formulating a strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Adityanath had campaigned extensively in Gujarat. The monk-politician had been named a star campaigner by his party, and was aimed at appealing to the hardline niches of the Gujarat electorate.

Large parts of his campaign were also aimed at swaying voters who had migrated to Gujarat from the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh.

The growing confidence within the BJP about the 2019 Lok Sabha election result stems from the positive outlook it has for the coming assembly elections in eight states in 2018.

Of the eight states that will go to the polls across the year, the BJP sees itself in strong positions in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, and will aim to tap into anti-incumbency in Karnataka. It is in power in Rajasthan and will attempt to hold on to power there.

The BJP will also look to take comfort from its expanding presence in the Northeast. Four of the seven sister states will go the polls in 2018 - Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. While CPM's Manik Sarkar can be expected to retain power in Tripura, the BJP is likely to fancy its choices in the other three states.

The party hopes it will be able to convert the momentum of its victories in a number of states since 2014 into a historic win for Narendra Modi in 2019.

(With agency inputs)