Narendra Modi in Lucknow LIVE: They say remove Modi, I say remove black money, says PM

Modi attacks SP, Congress and BSP: Says BJP only party who thinks of the people of Uttar Pradesh

“I will make sure that nothing stops development in Uttar Pradesh and for that not half-heartedly, but make us victorious with full mandate. BJP is the only party that thinks about the people of this state. Every other party is busy dealing with family feuds, or trying to hide their black money. The decision is yours and I am here to urge all of you to vote for BJP and let us help you. New Delhi is behind ever person of Uttar Pradesh.”

Modi tells the crowd to download Bhim app

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) app for cashless payments. The application can be set up in a matter of seconds, and allows for safe, secure and simple cashless transactions. It is not a mobile wallet, the app is inter-operable with Unified Payments Interface (UPI), and it connects directly to your bank account. The application is developed by the National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI).

Both SP and BSP are united against me: Modi

“Have you ever seen both SP and BSP united over anything? No. They are never united. But they, in one voice, are united against me. It’s your decision, bhaiyon aur behnon. They say Modi hatao, I say, corruption hatao.”

Watch LIVE telecast of Narendra Modi’s rally in Lucknow

This is Prime Minister’s first rally of 2017

Uttar Pradesh is an important cog in the wheel of development: Modi

PM Modi urges people of Uttar Pradesh to get over caste issues and deal with real problems. “No one can stop the state after that. All the governments that have ruled this state have put development on the backburner. Kya yehi khel khelte rahoge kya?”

BJP’s 14 years’ exile will get over this year: Modi

“BJP was in power in Uttar Pradesh, and fourteen years have passed. And people are saying that BJP’s exile of 14 years will be over this year. But that’s not what I am worried about. The problem is that for 14 years, development also has been banished from the state. This is a chance for development to come back.”

Modi invokes Atal Bihar Vajpayee

“Today, Atal ji, whose pure sincerety and unwavering devotion towards the party has made us come till here. I salute him and other leaders of the party like him.”

This is the biggest rally I have ever addressed: Modi

“Even during the run-up to the 2014 general elections, I did not see such a massive rally. Thank you for coming.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins his address

Not dangal, but mangal is what UP citizens want: Rajnath

Rajnath Singh urges the gathered crowd to make BJP victorious by 275+ votes. “There is a dangal going on in Uttar Pradesh, but people of the state want mangal and not dangal," says Rajnath.

Massive turnout at Ramabai Ambedkar Grounds

The BJP hopes that the rally, held at the Ramabai Ambedkar grounds, will see a turnout of over 10 lakh people — double the capacity of the 80 acre ground. The party has arranged for over 15,000 buses to help supporters attend the rally, PTI reported. 

In all likelihood, the prime minister will raise the ongoing Samajwadi party feud in his address as he hopes to win the electorate of Uttar Pradesh in an election that is very crucial for the BJP in the next general elections — more importantly as it desperately needs a majority in Rajya Sabha. In his rally today, the Prime Minister is also likely to repeat his New Year Eve announcements as well.

Under BJP, development will do a ghar wapsi in Uttar Pradesh: Rajnath

Attacking the SP and the BSP, Rajnath says there has been no positive change in the state. “Corruption in the state has increased by manifolds. When BJP was in power, the state flourished but SP and BSP have banished development. Under BJP, bhaiyon aur behnon, development and honesty will make a ghar waapsi in Uttar Pradesh.”

Rajnath Singh says:

“Someone says it’s a rally, someone might say it is a grand rally, but what I see is a huge ocean of people who want change in Uttar Pradesh.”

After Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh speaks in Lucknow

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Modi, Rajnath on stage

BJP targets SP and BSP

Once we are in power, people in both corrupt parties will be jailed.

Watch the rally LIVE

PM Modi arrives on stage

From our Hindi live blog: प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी मंच पर पहुंचे. भाजपा नेताओं ने उनका जोरदार स्वागत किया.

Amit Shah on SP feud

Amit Shah in Lucknow

​BJP president Amit Shah urges people to throw out Samajwadi Party government and bring back BJP with full majority.

Follow Modi’s speech in Lucknow on Firstpost Hindi here

​Amit Shah attacks Samajwadi Party

Amit Shah alleges that the policies of the government are not being implemented by the SP government, fearing it will boost Modi’s popularity.

Amit Shah attacks the Opposition on demonetisation 

Amit Shah says that the Opposition was questioning the PM for not fighting corruption but now after 8 November, when the fight against corruption began, it is asking why did it start the note ban.

Land grabbers will be jailed

Amit Shah says that land grabbers belonging to the SP will be in jail within one week of BJP coming to power.

Amit Shah says SP not allowing development in UP

Amit Shah speaking at the rally said that the prime minister is genuinely interested in developing UP. He added that the prime minister has alloted Rs one lakh rupees every year to the state.

Build up to the rally

Amid Samajwadi Party feud, pressure on BJP to win UP

Debobrat Ghose writing for Firstpost quotes MD Nalapat, “There could be a possible alliance between Akhilesh and Rahul Gandhi, and it’ll be better for both. BJP’s performance in the Assembly polls depends on the success of the demonetisation. So this split won’t help the BJP”.

UP BJP in-charge Om Mathur on election 

Mathur says BJP’s fight is not only against SP but also BSP.  

More sops for the poor expected, say reports

Prime Minister Narendra Modi could announce more sops ahead of the Uttar Pradesh polls.

Crowd gathers for the big rally

Crowd gathers at Prime Minister Modi’s Lucknow Rally

Samajwadi Party feud may be on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s radar

The ongoing factional conflict between the Akhilesh Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav camp could be the key focus of the prime minister’s speech.

Parivartan Rally after New Year’s Eve speech

Lucknow Rally comes after Prime Minister Modi announced a number of schemes for the urban and rural poor during his 31st speech.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address a rally in Lucknow

This is the first major political rally of 2017, which will kick start the countdown to the election in the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh.