The new state chief of BJP, Keshav Prasad Maurya, will be given a rousing welcome on his arrival in the state capital on Monday.
Maurya will chug into to the city by the New Delhi-lucknow Shatabdi Express. He will pay floral tribute at the statues of Deen Dayal Upadhaya, Mahatama Gandhi, Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar and Maharana Pratap, before addressing party workers at the party office opposite Vidhan Bhawan.
“The new state chief will be accorded a historic welcome. Party workers have been asked to reach Charbagh railway station from where the new president will be taken to the party office in a procession,” said BJP spokesman Vijay Bajadur Pathak.
The road between Charbagh station and Hazratganj has been spruced up with make-shift gates, festoons and party flags. Big hoardings have also come up congratulating Keshav Prasad Maurya for his new assignment.
However, the celebrations have been marred by controversy over the criminal background of Maurya. The issue took a serious turn after some office-bearers in Allahabad resigned from their posts to protest his appointment. The Opposition has already started taking potshots at the BJP brass charging the appointment was a clear indicator that the party wanted to communalise UP’s politics before the Assembly polls.
“There is no official communication about the resignation of any party leader. The workers are happy over Maurya's elevation and he too has assured the leadership of taking workers along with him. So, there is no question of any internal disquiet,” Pathak said.
Meanwhile, the in-charge of party affairs in UP, Om Mathur will also be present in lucknow to welcome the new president. He will introduce him to party office-bearers and also hold meeting with them.
The outgoing BJP state president Dr laxmikant Bajpai is expected to receive his successor at the Charbagh railway station on Monday afternoon.