Owaisi, Mayawati deserve Padma awards for BJP's win: Sena leader

Mumbai: The BJP has the big win in the UP assembly elections, surmounting all the adversities created during the first stint of the Yogi government. The BJP and its allies won a total of 273 out of the 403 seats in UP.

Responding to the BJP's victories in four states, particularly in UP, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut suggested that Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Chief Asaduddin Owaisi should be honoured with Padma Vibhushan or Bharat Ratna for paving the saffron party a green path to a great victory.

Terming BJP's win in its stronghold UP a great, Raut said Akhilesh Yadav could raise seats three-fold from 42 to over 125. "Mayawati and Owaisi have contributed to BJP's win, so they must be given Padma Vibhushan, Bharat Ratna," Raut said.

The BSP and AIMIM have been accused by many in the Opposition of being "B" teams of the BJP that contest polls to divide anti-BJP votes.

The BSP and AIMIM have been painted as BJP's 'B' team. Following the election results, Mayawati lashed out at the media for creating a false narrative, while Owaisi puts his words respecting the people's decision, implying how minorities were being used as vote banks.

Meanwhile, Akhilesh Yadav-led party won 111 seats on its own and the alliance led by it posted victory in 125 constituencies. This was the Samajwadi Party's best performance ever.

Mayawati's party received a vote share of 12.8 per cent and managed to win just one seat. AIMIM failed to open its account and its vote share stood at a 0.49 per cent.