Formation of the Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh has prompted an overhaul in the state Bharatiya Janata Party unit as appointment of a new party chief and head of Mahila Morcha is on the cards.
The present state BJP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya has been elevated as Deputy Chief Minister and he has to resign party post. As per the BJP statute, a leader can hold one post – be it in the government or in the party.
Besides, there are several state party functionaries including treasurer Rajesh Agarwal, state general secretary Swantra Deo Singh, vice-president Dharampal Singh have to resign from party posts bas they have become ministers in the state government.
Similarly, UP BJP Mahila Morcha president Swati Singh has been made a minister besides BJP’s western region in-charge Bhupendra Choudhury and Awadh region in-charge Mukut Bihari Verma have also been included in the ministry.
A senior party leader said that new state BJP chief would be appointed within a fortnight. “Besides, a major overhaul in the state executive is expected. The party brass has also started the process to select a new state president who will lead the party to the 2019 lok Sabha elections,” the leader said.
As the next BJP’s national executive is slated in mid April in New Delhi, all changes would have to be made before that so that the new UP BJP chief can attend that meet.
Other than change in state organisation, several leaders of the national unit who have been made ministers in UP government would also have to leave their respective posts.
BJP’s national vice-president and in-charge of Gujarat Dr Dinesh Sharma has been made the Deputy Chief Minister, while national BJP spokesperson Srikant Sharma and party’s national general secretary and in-charge of Andhra Pradesh Sidharthnath Singh would also be replaced.