PM Modi takes swipe at political experts in Varanasi, says 'chemistry defeated mathematics'

"Mathematics used to dominate elections in the 20th century. But after the 2014, 2017 and 2019 elections, political experts will now have to agree that there is a presence of chemistry ahead of mathematics," Modi said while addressing his party workers in Varanasi.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RLD) had stitched an alliance to defeat the BJP but received nothing but a crushing defeat. The alliance had got only 15 out of 80 seats while the BJP secured 62.

Earlier in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, the BJP had trounced the SP-Congress alliance by winning over 300 seats. In various parts of the country, the alliances have taken a beating by the BJP in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls.

Keeping his promise which he made during the campaign trail, Modi visited his parliamentary constituency Varanasi, which helped him to reach the Lok Sabha for the second time, on Monday and addressed his party workers.

He has also hit out at the political experts for calling the BJP "a Hindi heartland party".

"We are running governments in different parts of the country but the political experts call us a Hindi heartland party," the Prime Minister said.

In his long speech in Varanasi, Modi has tried to highlight the perception of the BJP created by negative campaigning.

"A perception has been created about the BJP that it is dangerous. When any film personality used to promote Gujarat tourism, everyone used to get shocked. A perception has been created that the BJP is untouchable," he said.

Hitting out at his arch-rival Congress, the Prime Minister referred to the several bifurcation of states done by the BJP government without "hurting anyone's feelings" unlike the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime.

"We have made states like Jharkhand, Uttarakhand through bifurcation but never did hurt anyone's sentiment. But Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are still in disturbed state," Modi said.

Before addressing his party workers, Modi had visited Kashi Vishwanath Temple to offer prayers.

Modi, who won in Varanasi by close to five lakh votes, was received by Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik and BJP president Amit Shah at the city airport.

Waving hands to greet people waiting on the streets, Modi, who had spearheaded BJP's poll campaign, reached Kashi Vishwanath Temple where he was accompanied by Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Last time when he had visited, the Prime Minister held a roadshow which saw a huge crowd hinting at his landslide victory. Exuding confidence, Modi had said he would return to Varanasi after his win to thank the people of his constituency.

In the same state, where Congress chief Rahul Gandhi was defeated by BJP's Smriti Irani, Modi increased his winning margin from 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Though in the 2014 polls, the Prime Minister had contested from two seats, Varanasi and Vadodara, Modi this time opted for only the city of Uttar Pradesh.

In the election in which the Opposition was decimated, the BJP won 303 seats. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) also bettered its tally to reach 353.

Modi and his council of ministers will take oath at 7 pm on May 30, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a statement. President Ram Nath Kovind would administer the oath of office and secrecy to Prime Minister Modi and the ministers, it added.