Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan shot back at
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his remark – “Uttar Pradesh
turning into Kerala or Bengal”, saying that is something “the people of UP would want”. 

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“If UP turns into Kerala as Yogi Adityanath
fears, it will enjoy the best education, health services, social welfare,
living standards and have a harmonious society in which people won’t be
murdered in the name of religion and caste. That’s what the people of UP would
want,” Pinarayi Vijayan wrote on Twitter. He made the same points in a
Hindi tweet posted from his handle.

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“If UP turns into Kerala as @myogiadityanath fears,
it will enjoy the best education, health services, social welfare, living
standards and have a harmonious society in which people won’t be murdered in
the name of religion and caste. That’s what the people of UP would want.”

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Congress leader Shashi Tharoor also slammed Yogi Adityanath
for the remark.

“UP will turn into Kashmir, Bengal or Kerala if
BJP doesn’t come to power, Yogi Adityanath tells voters. UP should be so
lucky!! Kashmir’s beauty, Bengal’s culture and Kerala’s education would do
wonders for the place. UP’s wonderful: pity about its government,” Mr
Tharoor posted.

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In a video message on the eve of the first phase of
the seven-phase Uttar Pradesh elections, Yogi Adityanath had urged voters to
choose BJP while referring to Left-ruled Kerala and Bengal, where the Trinamool
Congress won a third term last year, defeating the BJP.

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“I have to tell you something from my heart. A
lot of wonderful things have happened in these five years. Beware! If you miss,
the labour of these five years will be spoiled. It would not take much time for
Uttar Pradesh to become Kashmir, Kerala and Bengal,” Yogi Adityanath said
in the video.

“Your vote is a blessing on my efforts of five
years. Your vote will also be a guarantee of your fear-free life,” he
urged.

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“The time for a big decision has come. In the last
five years, the double-engine government of the BJP has done everything with
dedication and commitment. You have seen everything and heard everything in
detail,” said the UP Chief Minister, who is seeking a second term.