BJP has pushed its "war against black money" as a major poll plank in Uttar Pradesh.
Barabanki:
Brand new BJP posters in Barabanki, about 30 km from Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow, praise Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "war on black money" by banning 500 and 1,000 rupee notes. They signal the BJP's intent to make the notes ban a key issue in the state elections a few months away.
PM Modi has already addressed two rallies in UP since his sudden announcement earlier this month abolishing the high value currency and has in his speeches sought the people's support for a hard measure that he promises will punish the corrupt and will bring long-term benefits for the poor.
He has at the rallies also underscored that he feels the people's pain at the hardships caused by the cash crunch that has followed the demonetisation, and has sought 50 days to ease the situation. At a rally in Ghazipur last week he asked the crowds to raise their hands to show their support for the move.
The BJP says its victories in key by-elections in three states on Tuesday shows that people support the notes ban.
Sunil Kumar, a 22-year-old farmer in Barabanki said the cash crunch has deeply affected farmers with the Rabi sowing season upon them. But, he said, it is still advantage BJP in UP.
"Am not sure about all votes, but out of 100, I think he will get at least 65 votes," Mr Kumar said, also adding, "But there are things that could have been done better. For instance, we should have been allowed to use older notes for fertilisers and seeds."
In measures that it has announced almost every day to ease the situation, the government this week said farmers can buy seeds with old notes. After feedback on extreme rural distress due to the poor access of people to banks in villages, the government has also planned a massive cash infusion into the rural system.
Barabanki sends six lawmakers to the UP assembly. In 2012, the ruling Samajwadi Party won all. But in 2014, the BJP won the Barabanki parliament seat.
Party worker Awdhesh Srivastava said, "The question is not of political advantage. That we will naturally get... but yes, money should reach the cooperative banks soon so that whatever little negative sentiment the opposition is using can be erased."
"What political advantage are you talking about? People will vote if they have money and they get to eat. Right?"said Dharm Raj Yadav, a Samajwadi Party lawmaker from the area. But he is unclear on just how his party will counter the BJP's campaign on the notes ban.
PM Modi has already addressed two rallies in UP since his sudden announcement earlier this month abolishing the high value currency and has in his speeches sought the people's support for a hard measure that he promises will punish the corrupt and will bring long-term benefits for the poor.
He has at the rallies also underscored that he feels the people's pain at the hardships caused by the cash crunch that has followed the demonetisation, and has sought 50 days to ease the situation. At a rally in Ghazipur last week he asked the crowds to raise their hands to show their support for the move.
The BJP says its victories in key by-elections in three states on Tuesday shows that people support the notes ban.
Sunil Kumar, a 22-year-old farmer in Barabanki said the cash crunch has deeply affected farmers with the Rabi sowing season upon them. But, he said, it is still advantage BJP in UP.
"Am not sure about all votes, but out of 100, I think he will get at least 65 votes," Mr Kumar said, also adding, "But there are things that could have been done better. For instance, we should have been allowed to use older notes for fertilisers and seeds."
In measures that it has announced almost every day to ease the situation, the government this week said farmers can buy seeds with old notes. After feedback on extreme rural distress due to the poor access of people to banks in villages, the government has also planned a massive cash infusion into the rural system.
Barabanki sends six lawmakers to the UP assembly. In 2012, the ruling Samajwadi Party won all. But in 2014, the BJP won the Barabanki parliament seat.
Party worker Awdhesh Srivastava said, "The question is not of political advantage. That we will naturally get... but yes, money should reach the cooperative banks soon so that whatever little negative sentiment the opposition is using can be erased."
"What political advantage are you talking about? People will vote if they have money and they get to eat. Right?"said Dharm Raj Yadav, a Samajwadi Party lawmaker from the area. But he is unclear on just how his party will counter the BJP's campaign on the notes ban.
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