Lucknow, July 18, 2024 – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is grappling with internal turbulence in Uttar Pradesh after a disappointing performance in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. The party won only 36 seats compared to the Opposition’s 43, triggering significant repercussions within the state unit.
Organizational and Cabinet Changes Anticipated
In response to the electoral setback, substantial changes are expected in both the BJP’s organizational structure and the state cabinet. Bhupendra Chaudhary, the current state chief, has offered to resign following meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President JP Nadda. This has fueled speculation that the BJP could soon appoint a new state chief.
A cabinet reshuffle is also on the horizon in Uttar Pradesh. The only previous expansion in Yogi Adityanath’s second term occurred earlier this year when four ministers were added, coinciding with the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) joining the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The upcoming reshuffle is expected to include more representatives from backward classes and regions where the BJP suffered losses in the 2024 elections.
Discord Among Top Leaders
Adding to the party’s woes is the reported discord between Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his deputy, Keshav Prasad Maurya. The central BJP leadership has intervened, urging state leaders to cease public disagreements and concentrate on the upcoming ten bypolls. A recent meeting convened by the Chief Minister to discuss the by-elections saw the conspicuous absence of both Deputy Chief Ministers, Maurya and Brijesh Pathak.
The rift became public knowledge after Maurya skipped multiple cabinet meetings chaired by Adityanath over the past month. Maurya’s statement at a BJP meeting in Lucknow further intensified the speculation. Addressing around 3,500 delegates, he asserted, “No government is bigger than the organization (sangathan). No one is bigger than the ‘sangathan’. We are proud of our workers.” This comment underscored the sentiment among some BJP leaders that the bureaucracy in Uttar Pradesh is overshadowing the party organization, contributing to the lackluster performance in the elections.
Reactions and Support
NDA ally Sanjay Nishad supported Maurya’s statement, attributing the BJP’s poor electoral show to the alignment of many officers with the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
In an effort to mitigate the fallout, Maurya met BJP chief JP Nadda on Tuesday. The discussions focused on the strategy for the upcoming by-elections and analyzing the party’s disappointing performance in the Lok Sabha polls. This meeting was the second between Maurya and Nadda within 48 hours, following their initial meeting on July 14 during the state executive meeting in Lucknow.
Opposition’s Response
Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav seized the opportunity to criticize the BJP, stating, “In the heat of BJP’s fight for power, governance and administration in UP has been put on the back burner…BJP is sinking in the quagmire of internal conflicts.”
Looking Ahead
As the BJP navigates these turbulent times, the focus remains on the forthcoming by-elections. The party’s ability to manage internal differences and present a unified front will be crucial in determining its future trajectory in Uttar Pradesh.
For continuous updates on this developing story, stay tuned to Sarhind Times.
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