The politics of election slogans in Uttar Pradesh

Slogans or creative one-liners, which play a significant role in election campaigning, help many parties attain success, but they also lead to defeat at times.

Many catchphrases are remembered for long, and during elections, political parties enter the fray with witty and innovative combination of words.

If political pundits are to be believed, slogans change on the basis of time and situation but it plays a main role in winning over electorate.

Before the elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi coined the slogan of 'UP+Yogi, Bahut Hai Upyogi', which created a buzz on social media. As the campaign is intensifying, so is the slogan. Readmore!

The BJP's other slogans are: 'Ab Aayenge Toh Yogi Hi'; 'Soch Imaandar, Kaam Damdaar, Ek Baar Fir Bhaajpa Sarkar'; 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishvas'; 'Yogi Hai Toh Yakin Hai'; 'Cycle Rakho Numaish Mein, Baba Hi Rahenge Baais Mein, Fir Try Karna Sattais Mein'; 'Sau Mein Saathh Humara Hai, Sau Mein Bhi Batwara Hai, Usme Bhi Humara Hai'; 'Sochiye Aur Chuniye, Yogiraj Ya Gundaraj, Fark Saaf Hai'; 'Kamal Khilayen, Bhajpa Ki Sarkar Banaye'; 'Janta Ki Hunkar, BJP Sarkar'.

The Samajwadi Party's slogans are: 'UP Ka Hai Yeh Janadesh, Aa Rahen Hain Akhilesh'; 'Baais Mein Bicycle'; 'Nayi Hawa Hai Nayi Sapa Hai', 'Badon Ka Haath, Yuva Ka Saath'; 'Janta Sapa Ke Saath Hai', 'Baais Mein Badlaav Hai'.

Slogans of the BSP are: 'Har Polling Booth Jitana Hai, Basapa Ko Satta Mein Lana Hai'; 'Das March, Sab Saaf, Behnaji Hain UP Ki Aas', 'Sarvjan Hitay, Sarvjan Sukhaay'.

The Congress has played the gender card this time and its most talked-about slogans are 'Ladki Hoon Lad Sakti Hoon' and 'Ladega, Badgega, Jeetega UP'.

In 1965, at the time of India-Pakistan war, the then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri had coined the slogan 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan'. After his demise in 1966, the said slogan filled the air in which his party Congress won.

Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's 'Garibi Hatao' slogan during campaigning in 1971 reverbrated the country, leading to a victory for Gandhi and the grand old party.

When the Allahabad High Court in 1975 rejected the election of Indira Gandhi from Rae Bareli, she declared Emergency on June 25. The Congress was dethroned in 1977 with Jayaprakash Narayan's slogan of 'Indira Hatao Desh Bachao' resonating across the country.

'Raja Nahi Fakir Hain, Desh Ki Taqdeer Hain' won the heart of the people following which V.P. Singh became the Prime Minister in 1989.

After the Nuclear test in 1998, then Prime Minsiter Atal Bihari Vajpayee tweaked Shastri's slogan and made it 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan', underlining the importance of science and technology.

In 1996, the BJP coined the slogan 'Sabko Dekha Baari Baari, Ab Ki Baar Atal Bihari', and the saffron party won the polls. The BJP emerged as the single largest party, but the government could last only 13 days.

Later, the BJP coined the 'India Shining' slogan but failed to attain power.

BSP chief Mayawati had coined the slogan 'Tilak, Taraju aur Talwaar, Inko Maaro Joote Chaar'. In 2007, when the slogan of 'Hathi Nahi Ganesh Hai, Brahma, Vishnu Mahesh Hai' was coined, Mayawati formed the government for the first time.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, slogans like 'Ache Din Aane Wale Hain' and 'Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas' were coined with which the BJP stormed to power.

In the 2019 general elections too, the slogan 'Phir Ek Baar Modi Sarkar' was coined with which the saffron party retained the power.

Senior political analyst P.N. Dwivedi said that slogans play an important role in politics.

Slogans help political parties taste success. From panchayat to Parliament, slogans are very important. Political parties try to woo the electorate with slogans, he said.

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