The debate on ‘Kerala’s model’ erupted when Yogi Adityanath said that if the BJP wasn’t voted to power in Uttar Pradesh, it would turn into the southern state, which prompted Pinarayi Vijayan to hit back
Combination image of Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Uttar Pradesh counterpart, Yogi Adityanath. PTI
The ongoing Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections went ‘south’ (pun intended) when Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had warned the people of UP that the state would become Kerala, Kashmir, or Bengal if they do not vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the polls.
Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan was quick to pick this up and criticised his counterpart, saying the latter would be afraid if Uttar Pradesh became like Kerala, as it would enjoy the best education, healthcare facilities and “people won’t be murdered in the name of religion and caste”.
He tweeted, “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.”