Undeterred by the opposition’s hardened stand on the Lakhimpur Kheri violence that led to the death of eight people, including four farmers, UP BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh said on Wednesday that the incident will not have an adverse fallout on BJP’s electoral prospects in any part of the state, including in the politically restive west UP region, in the run-up to polls early next year.

Speaking to media, Singh said the opposition was trying to turn a crisis into a political opportunity but “would not succeed” in denting BJP’s prospects. The state BJP chief said various pro-farmer policies framed by the Modi government at the Centre and the Yogi Adityanath government in UP have benefited the farming community and brought it close to the ruling party.

“Virodhi mahaul kharab kar lenge...par BJP kas nuksaan nahi kar payenge (opposition can spoil the atmosphere of the state, but can’t cause any harm to BJP),” he said.

Singh’s assertion assumes political importance as the opposition has moved to corner BJP over an incident that had otherwise been deftly controlled by the state government machinery led by the CM. Political experts said the opposition was desperately seeking to turn the tables on BJP, which had stopped political leaders from reaching Lakhimpur Kheri at the peak of the crisis.

(With inputs from agencies)