 "BJP does not believe in political untouchability, open to support: Amit Shah")
With Lok Sabha poll results just a week away, BJP today said it does not believe in "political untouchability" and is open to support from any party.
While exuding confidence that BJP and its existing NDA partners would win more than 300 seats to form a government, Narendra Modi's close aide and BJP's UP in-charge Amit Shah said that the party is still open to support from any party "if they want to ally for the country's development".
Reacting to BSP leader Mayawati's comments that there was no possibility of her party supporting BJP, Shah told reporters here that "BJP does not believe in political untouchability".
Mayawati's comments came a day after BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi indicated in an interview that he expected more parties to join the NDA after elections.
"All parties are welcome to join NDA if they want to give their support for development of this country," Shah said.
He also reiterated BJP's demand for transfer of Varanasi District Magistrate Pranjal Yadav and asked Election Commission to deploy central paramilitary forces in all 18 constituencies in UP that would go to polls on Monday along with Varanasi as all of them were "sensitive".
"While we welcome deployment of forces for elections here, why Azamgarh is being left out from where Mulayam Singh Yadav is fighting and his son Akhilesh Yadav is chief minister of this state," Shah said.
Shah said that there appeared to be some differences within Election Commission on this matter.
"I agree that the Election Commission should not fear anyone, but they must ensure free and fair polls.
"The Chief Election Commission V S Sampath should not be afraid of us as all we want is free and fair polls," Shah said when asked about Sampath's remarks to this effect. MORE
He also said that there were no more election programmes of Modi planned for Varanasi now.
While exuding confidence that BJP and its existing NDA partners would win more than 300 seats to form a government, Narendra Modi's close aide and BJP's UP in-charge Amit Shah said that the party is still open to support from any party "if they want to ally for the country's development".
Reacting to BSP leader Mayawati's comments that there was no possibility of her party supporting BJP, Shah told reporters here that "BJP does not believe in political untouchability".
Mayawati's comments came a day after BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi indicated in an interview that he expected more parties to join the NDA after elections.
"All parties are welcome to join NDA if they want to give their support for development of this country," Shah said.
He also reiterated BJP's demand for transfer of Varanasi District Magistrate Pranjal Yadav and asked Election Commission to deploy central paramilitary forces in all 18 constituencies in UP that would go to polls on Monday along with Varanasi as all of them were "sensitive".
"While we welcome deployment of forces for elections here, why Azamgarh is being left out from where Mulayam Singh Yadav is fighting and his son Akhilesh Yadav is chief minister of this state," Shah said.
Shah said that there appeared to be some differences within Election Commission on this matter.
"I agree that the Election Commission should not fear anyone, but they must ensure free and fair polls.
"The Chief Election Commission V S Sampath should not be afraid of us as all we want is free and fair polls," Shah said when asked about Sampath's remarks to this effect. MORE
He also said that there were no more election programmes of Modi planned for Varanasi now.
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