According to a minister in the Uttar Pradesh government, the BJP’s chief ministerial face will be decided after the 2022 assembly elections, contradicting party sources who recently stated that Yogi Adityanath would lead the party into the crucial assembly elections and that there would be no rethinking.
“When the year 2022 arrives, we will have won the election. After that whoever is sent by the Central leadership will be welcome,” Swami Prasad Maurya had told reporters on Sunday.
Mr. Maurya is a cabinet minister in Yogi Adityanath’s administration, and he is in charge of the vital labour ministry. He switched to the BJP from Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party a few years ago.
Mr. Maurya’s remark came on the eve of key BJP leaders from Delhi, BL Santosh and Radha Mohan Singh, arriving in Lucknow for a second round of discussions with party leaders tomorrow.
Two weeks ago, the two leaders were in the state capital amid considerable speculation about reported unhappiness with the Chief Minister and rumours of a major upheaval in both the party and the administration.
However, the BJP has made it plain that Yogi Adityanath, one of the party’s most prominent figures, would head the party in the elections next year. Other options for course correction considered by the party included a reorganisation in the state government and the import of leaders from other parties. The cabinet extension is still in the odds.
The BJP fought the 2017 elections without a Chief Ministerial candidate, instead focusing on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image and popularity.
Few anticipated Yogi Adityanath, one of India’s most renowned right-wing figures, to be named Chief Minister by the party’s leadership.
The former Gorakhpur Member of Parliament has no ties to the BJP or its ideological ally, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
Even within his own party, some doubts have been made about his leadership style.
According to BJP sources, removing Yogi Adityanath so close to the assembly elections is out of the question, and that he is the party’s best hope for success.
