There is atmosphere of pro-incumbency, BJP will win all 5 states: PM Modi to ANI

"Wherever BJP has been given the opportunity to work with stability, there you will find an atmosphere of pro-incumbency and not anti-incumbency. BJP always emerges into elections with pro-incumbency," PM Modi said in an exclusive interview with ANI.

He said BJP will form the government with an "overwhelming majority" in all five states going to polls-Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur.

"BJP is always involved in serving people. When in power, we work with mantra of 'sabka saath, sabka vikas'. I can see a wave for BJP in all states. We'll win with an overwhelming majority and people in 5 states will give us an opportunity to serve them," said the Prime Minister.

Citing an example of Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP emerged victorious consecutively in the 2014, 2017, 2019 elections- both in assembly polls and Lok Sabha elections, Modi said: "We won in 2014. We were then voted (to power) in 2017 and 2019. So the old theory (a party not repeating its victory in consecutive polls in UP) has been rejected by UP. They accepted us in 2014, 2017 & 2019. They'll accept us in 2022 after seeing our work."

Speaking on the Lakhimpur Kheri incident in UP, PM Modi said: "The state government gave its consent for whatever committee Supreme Court wanted to form, for whichever judge Supreme Court wanted for the probe. The state government is working transparently."

On being asked about his remark on former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in his Parliament address, Modi said: "I didn't speak against anyone's father/grandfather...I said what a former PM had said...It's the right of the nation (to know). They say we don't mention Nehru ji. If we do, then too there's a difficulty. Don't understand this fear."

He said his government believes in taking everyone along, following the mantra of Unity in Diversity.

"We believe in unity in diversity but some leaders followed ‘divide&rule’ policy…We identified over 100 aspirational districts in the country. Today, some of these districts have crossed the national average on many parameters. This is a way to address regional aspirations," PM Modi told ANI.

He said for the BJP, elections are like open universities, which provide them with opportunities to learn.

"BJP began winning after losing again and again. When we win, we try to connect to grassroots and leave no stone unturned in winning hearts. We look for hope even in loss. For us, polls are like open universities with opportunities for new recruitments and to polish ourselves," the PM added.

"We believe-for country's progress we've to address regional aspirations. I was a CM too and understand states' aspirations. Earlier, leaders coming to India used to visit only Delhi, but I took them to different states," he said.

In an attack on the oppositions parties for following dynasty politics, the PM said: "When a party is run for generations by a family, there is only dynasty, not dynamics. Starting from Jammu and Kashmir, where there're two parties run by two separate families, you can see a similar trend in Haryana, Jharkhand, UP and Tamil Nadu. Dynastic politics is the biggest enemy of democracy."

PM Modi also hit back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and said, “How do I reply to the person who does not listen, skips Parliament?”

This comes as UP goes to the seven-phase election on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27 and March 3 and 7. Elections in Goa and Uttarakhand will be held on February 14.

Punjab will also go into the polls in a single phase on February 20 while Manipur's Assembly elections will be held in two phases on February 27 and March 3.