With exit polls predicting victory of BJP in four states justifying Narendra Modi’s call of `Congress-Mukt Bharat ‘ the Bharatiya Janata Party is now the most sought after party in Uttar Pradesh as many leaders have opened back-door channels to get a toe-hold in the party.
Activities have intensified in last two days. Many leaders have met BJP in-charge in Uttar Pradesh Amit Shah while a few specifically flew down to Gandhinagar to have an audience with Modi as political leaders of all hue believe that in Uttar Pradesh BJP, riding on Modi-wave, will sweep the lok Sabha elections. Even the staunch rivals of BJP believe that the party will get 40 plus seats in present standing.
Uttar Pradesh, a home to 20 crore people, has the maximum 80 lok Sabha seats. The political dictum says that "road to Delhi passes through lucknow" and therefore the political leaders have started deserting sinking ships and are now opting for BJP.
The national leadership has left this tricky issue for Shah to tackle in consultation with Modi. In last assembly election it had a bad experience when party inducted NRHM scam tainted former BSP minister Babu Singh Kushwaha in the party with a hope of getting most backward votes. The decision boomeranged and the party found itself defending its decision as why a corrupt leader was inducted in the party.
So, this time party wants to play safe and induct only those leaders who have a clean image and have a chance to win seat for BJP. The list of leaders willing to join BJP seems to be long - but impressive. Senior Congress leader and former MP from Sultanpur Sanjay Singh is in touch with BJP and is in all likelihood would contest election from Amethi against Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.
Singh, a scion of Amethi’s royal family, was seen attending BJP’s functions in Amethi. Political grapevine suggests that Singh has agreed to contest against Rahul and has been assured a Rajya Sabha seat if he loses election against Gandhi.
Then there is former MP Ganga Charan Rajput who has shown his willingness to join BJP. The sitting BSP MP from Hamirpur Vijaya Bahadur Singh is all set to join BJP. He had even praised Modi for kindling the fire of nationalism among the youth. Another sitting MP from Samajwadi Party Brij Bhushan Saran Singh who was given ticket to contest from Gonda by Mulayam Singh Yadav has refused the ticket. His son joined BJP in Modi’s Bahraich rally and is likely to join party in a month or so.
A minister from Hardoi in Akhilesh Yadav Government too has shown his willingness to join BJP as a large chunk of Samajwadi Party from Hardoi has joined BJP. SP’s national general secretary Naresh Agarwal is a towering political personality in Hardoi.