BJP to use bike from Uttar Pradesh for rallies

Hyderabad: BJP workers will once again use Uttar Pradesh-registered two-wheelers for  electioneering for the upcoming municipal elections. These bikes were used in the successful campaign for the Uttar Pradesh elections two years ago. The bikes were transported to Telangana state ahead of the Assembly elections but their charm did not rub off on the BJP here. The party won a paltry one seat out of the 119 on offer.

Despite this, they were used for canvassing for the Lok Sabha elections and appear to have worked their magic again. The BJP won four out of the 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

Almost 150 bikes were handed over to activists to travel on party work. When the bikes were handed over, they were told that the vehicles carried their share of luck.

The BJP has released its list of municipal cluster committees for 133 municipalities which will go to the polls. State leaders have already started visiting the districts to take forward the party membership drive.

A senior leader told this newspaper that the high command had directed UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to send the bikes in view of the sentiment attached to them.

Keeping a vehicle registered outside the state beyond a certain time will require payment of life tax. Asked about this, deputy transport commissioner Papa Rao said, “If a vehicle registered outside the state is found to be overstaying for six months, the owner has to pay 12 per cent tax and a penalty of 2 per cent.”

Asked about the 150 UP-registered bikes with the BJP, he said, “We have no such information, but if we get proof, then penalty will be levied.”