RSS steps in to resolve UP BJP crisis

Lucknow: With differences between Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his deputy and senior party leader Keshav Prasad Maurya threatening to escalate into a major crisis ahead of the upcoming by-elections to 10 seats in the state, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has launched an exercise to rein in the warring leaders.

According to the sources, a senior RSS functionary from the eastern UP region met Maurya a few days ago and discussed the issues raised by the latter during the recent BJP executive committee meeting.

Sources said the RSS functionary assured Maurya that the issues he raised would be taken up at the highest level and urged him not to air his grievances in public forums. A leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) also met senior state leaders of the BJP to resolve the crisis.

Maurya had launched a veiled attack on Adityanath during the rally, alleging that ordinary party workers were not getting the respect that the government wanted for them and that neglect of the party organisation was one of the main reasons for the saffron party’s poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections in the state.

A few days later, Maurya fired another salvo at Adityanath over reservations in contractual appointments made by the state government in various departments. He sought to know whether reservations for SC, ST and OBC had been adhered to while making contractual appointments in various government departments and undertakings, in accordance with the GO (government order) issued in this regard.

Maurya’s meetings with Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) president and UP minister Om Prakash Rajbhar and Nishad Party (NP) president and minister Sanjay Nishad also created a stir in the political circles here. Both were allies of the BJP and the meetings were seen as a show of strength by Maurya here.

BJP sources said that Adityanath had asked ministers in charge of various districts to hold meetings with local party workers and address their concerns.

Sources said Adityanath, who was scheduled to attend the Niti Ayog governing council meeting in Delhi on Friday, could meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the party’s top leaders.

Maurya, state BJP president Bhupendra Choudhary and some other key leaders of the state BJP were also likely to meet the BJP central leadership around the same time.

”There will be changes in the party organisation…the central leadership has asked state leaders to put aside their differences and work together to achieve better results in the upcoming by-elections,” a senior BJP leader in the state said.