Lucknow, Aug 19 (IANS): Outlining his ambitions for Uttar Pradesh, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah Tuesday exhorted party workers to begin work for winning the 2017 state assembly elections.

Speaking to party workers on his maiden visit to the state after his recent elevation as party chief, Shah said time has come for the party to reclaim the government in Uttar Pradesh, the most populous and electorally crucial state.

Thanking the people and party workers for helping the BJP win 71 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state, Shah said workers should now work to expose the "total failed" government of the Samajwadi Party (SP).

He added that workers should fan out across Uttar Pradesh to inform people how only the BJP can usher in peace, development and prosperity in the state.

Accusing the Akhilesh Yadav government of "punishing" people for overwhelmingly voting for the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah said there was no governance in the state and anarchy reigned everywhere.

"Neither Mulayam Singh Yadav nor Akhilesh Yadav have time for the people of the state who are battling with an unprecedented flood situation, but have time for Amar Singh," he said.

He also urged party workers to begin a sustained exercise to inform and educate people about the good work being undertaken by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and not to pay heed to the negative propaganda unleashed by opponents.

"After a spectacular show in the general elections, now is the time to focus on state politics and I am sure with the toil and hard work of party workers, we will achieve a two-thirds majority in the assembly elections," he said.

Amit Shah was in charge of the BJP's Lok Sabha election exercise in Uttar Pradesh. While the BJP won a spectacular 71 seats, its alliance partner Apna Dal won two other seats.