Trouble in UP BJP? Yogi Adityanath, deputy's differing views at review meet

Discontent among party workers, faces of disgruntled members and a tireless effort to reinvigorate the party cadre seemed to be on display at the Uttar Pradesh BJP Executive Committee meeting held in Lucknow on Sunday.

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya told his party members, "Your pain is my pain too," emphasising that the organisation (BJP) is greater than the government and all ministers, MLAs, and public representatives should respect workers and take care of their dignity.

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"The organisation was bigger than the government, is bigger and will always be bigger. The SP and the Congress in the form of 'saapnath' and 'naagnath' have pushed us behind for some time by lying and cheating. But in 2027, we will again form the BJP government in the state with a target of crossing 300 (seats)," the Deputy Chief Minister said.

Maurya received the most applause when he voiced the concerns of the BJP workers in the populous state.

CHIEF MINISTER TAKES DIFFERENT STAND

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath drew a completely different line and said that 'overconfidence' hurt the BJP's hopes in the recently-concluded Lok Sabha elections.

Adityanath said while the BJP managed to maintain its vote share of previous elections, there was a "shifting of votes", and now the "defeated" Opposition is "jumping around" again.

"The percentage of votes that BJP had in its favour in 2014 and subsequent elections, BJP has been successful in getting the same number of votes in 2024 as well, but shifting of votes and overconfidence have hurt our hopes," Adityanath said.

In the recent Lok Sabha polls, the BJP won 33 seats in Uttar Pradesh, down from the 62 it clinched in 2019. The Congress won six seats, while its INDIA bloc ally Samajwadi Party bagged 37 seats in the state, which sends 80 members to the Lower House of Parliament.

However, the Chief Minister, while addressing the meeting, made it explicit that the manner in which his government is functioning will remain unaffected.

WORKERS' CONCERNS UNADDRESSED?

While senior leaders from the state president to Keshav Maurya were addressing the workers' issues, Adityanath countered by questioning why the workers couldn't respond to the Opposition's negativity?

"While good morning messages can be sent on smartphones, why wasn't the Opposition's spread of lies countered," the Chief Minister asked.

While senior leaders talked about the workers, the political proposal did not mention the widespread discontent among them. Additionally, there was no mention of issues against bureaucracy that local leaders of the state have been continuously voicing.

During the elections, it was noted that many workers sat at home disappointed, unable to get people's work done at police stations and tehsils, but the issue found no mention in the executive committee meeting.

CONGRESS LEADER'S DIG

Amid the ongoing buzz of discontent within the UP BJP, former Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi mocked the ruling party, claiming that Uttar Pradesh now has three Chief Ministers.

The senior advocate took to X and said that the UP BJP review meeting was hilarious.

"UP BJP's review meeting was hilarious! Infighting coming out to surface and public catfight in the meeting. UP now has three CMs - two of them desperate to remove 'Deputy' from their designations," Singhvi said.

"Evidently clear the top bosses have decided to dethrone the local chieftain!" he added.

Published By: Sahil Sinha Published On: Jul 15, 2024