With quetions being raised over the working of the government and the party, all eyes are now focussed on the scheduled day-long visit of BJP president Amit Shah on Wednesday. Shah is expected to sort out differences and even placate alliance partners who have voiced anger over the functioning style of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and have been threatening to part ways.
This will be Shah’s first visit after the party lost the two crucial lok Sabha by-polls at Gorakhpur and Phulpur recently. The BJP government completed its one year term on March 19 last but due to inner bickerings, the government failed to take its achievements to the ground level.
Besides, revolt by some BJP MPs and alliance partner Suheldeo Bharatiya Samaj Party along with the rise in Dalit atrocities have pushed the government to the back foot.
On Tuesday, BJP officials said in lucknow that Shah would reach lucknow in the afternoon and immediately meet first with party leaders and then with the government.
Though the BJP chief's official programme is yet to be disclosed, sources said that Shah would remain in the city for over eight hours where he will have meeting with all leaders including those from alliance partners.
Recently, Yogi was asked to come to Delhi where he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah and discussed the state of affairs in UP. The meeting was held after it was reported that the CM and his deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya were not pulling well together.
The BJP is already on the back foot as RSS inputs have alerted the party brass about consolidation of SP and BSP in the state and swift mobilisation of Muslims and Dalits against the BJP.
Adding insult to injury are four Dalit MPs — Savitri Bai Phule, Chhote lal, Yashwant Singh and Ashok Dohre, who have expressed their anguish before the state and central leaderships over atrocities against Dalits and the CM's style of working.
Party insiders feel that in view of the escalating tensions in the rank and file of the BJP, crucial changes in the government and organisation could be on the cards.
“The names of 11 candidates for the legislative Council eelection could also be finalized during Shah’s visit,” a senior leader said.