Yogi Adityanath to be face of BJP for UP elections, no decision yet on Rajasthan candidate

Amid speculation of differences within the BJP in Uttar Pradesh over the question of leadership ahead of the 2022 Assembly polls, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday called upon his Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya over lunch.

Later, while talking to reporters during his visit to Rajasthan’s Jaipur, BJP general secretary Arun Singh hailed Yogi Adityanath. He also stated “Yogi Adityanath is doing a good job, so why should he be removed from CM’s position”.

 He added that the BJP Parliamentary Board will decide on the name of the party’s CM face in Rajasthan.

On Tuesday, Mr. Adityanath along with Deputy CM Dinesh Sharma and top RSS leaders Dattatreya Hosabale and Krishna Gopal, visited Mr. Maurya. Mr. Maurya later released pictures of the meetings on social media, with one where he was offering a saffron scarf to Mr. Adityanath.

Earlier this week, UP BJP vice-president and former bureaucrat-turned-MLC, Arvind Kumar Sharma, had sent a letter to party state president Swatantra Dev Singh, saying that the name and patronage of Prime Minister Narendra Modi were enough for the BJP to win the UP polls.

Earlier this month, Vasundhara Raje’s posters were removed from the BJP Rajasthan’s state headquarters. The present posters have Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief JP Nadda on one side and state president Satish Poonia and Leader of Opposition Gulab Chand Kataria on the other side.

“Those issuing their statements should first evaluate whether their comment will benefit or bring in loss to the party,” said Arun Singh, adding: “If party suffers due to any statement of any leader, then disciplinary action shall be taken against the person concerned.”

BJP general secretary (organization) B.L. Santhosh and party’s U.P. in-charge Radha Mohan Singh, who are in Lucknow again, also held meetings with party state general secretaries, regional heads and senior leaders.