The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to release its first list of candidates for Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections by 17 or 18 January and may field Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Deputy Chief Ministers Dinesh Sharma and Keshav Prasad Maurya in the elections.
The meeting of BJP’s Central Election Committee (CEC) was held on Thursday to finalise the names of the candidates for the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls. “BJP can release its first list by Monday or Tuesday in which the names of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and both the Deputy Chief Ministers can be announced,” sources said. The meeting was presided over by party president J.P. Nadda, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi also attended it. After the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said that 172 names have been discussed. Sources that that the names of the CM and both deputy CMs can be announced in the first list itself.
BJP had discussed the seat of Yogi in the party’s core committee meeting, which was also kept before the CEC meeting and the panel has taken its decision, as per sources.
“The Chief Minister can contest from Ayodhya. Dinesh Sharma, who is the Brahmin face of the party, can be fielded from Lucknow, while Keshav Prasad Maurya can be fielded from Sirathu or Phaphamau seat,” sources said.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said, “In BJP’s Central Election Committee meeting today, a very fruitful discussion was held regarding candidates on 172 Assembly seats (in Uttar Pradesh).” “We are hopeful of registering a glorious victory in the 2022 Assembly elections,” Maurya added.
The next meeting of the party’s Central Election Committee can be held on 19 January, in which the names of the remaining candidates for 231 seats of the 403-member Assembly can be finalized.
PRE-POLL CHURN
Meanwhile, pre-poll churning in Uttar Pradesh has seen the BJP getting a jolt with six MLAs resigning from the party and three ministers quitting the government amid signals that they will join Samajwadi Party.
Dharam Singh Saini became the third minister on Thursday to resign from the Yogi Adiyanath government in the last three days. In their resignation letters, the ministers have accused the BJP government of having a “callous attitude” towards Dalits, farmers, the unemployed youth and those belonging to Other Backward Classes. Saini, who belongs to the OBC community, indicated that there would be more resignations of ministers and MLAs in the coming days and the process will continue till 20 January. “I have resigned because for 5 years Dalits, backward classes were suppressed, their voices were suppressed… We will do whatever Swami Prasad Maurya will say. One minister and 3-4 MLAs will resign every day till 20 January,” he said.
The spate of resignations began with Swami Prasad Maurya quitting the cabinet. Maurya, a prominent leader from the OBC community, had joined the BJP from BSP. Dara Singh Chauhan had resigned as minister on Wednesday. After quitting as a minister, Dharam Singh Saini met Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav. “I welcome him to the Samajwadi Party,” Yadav said.
Samajwadi Party has stitched a coalition of smaller parties for the assembly polls which will be held in seven phases in February-March. It has emerged as the main rival of ruling BJP in the state.
Earlier BJP MLAs Mukesh Verma, Vinay Shakya, Avtar Singh Bhadana, Roshan Lal Verma, Brijesh Prajapati and Bhagwati Sagar resigned from the party.
Avtar Singh Bhadana has joined Rashtriya Lok Dal, which is an ally of the Samajwadi Party.
Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad slammed the ministers who resigned from the BJP, and said, “When the Election Commission issues Model Code of Conduct, there is no minister or MLA. It is their responsibility to be amongst the public and win the election once again. They did not say anything for five years, the BJP was not bad then. Now when you have to go to the public and seek their support, then you are accusing the party. That means you have nothing to show as work.”
CONGRESS RELEASES LIST
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra released the party’s first list of 125 candidates for Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. “Today the Congress party has released a list of 125 candidates who will be contesting for the upcoming Assembly election. Of these, 50 are women. We have tried to include those who fight for the rights of the common man and with this historic initiative, we hope to bring in a new kind of politics in the country,” the Congress leader said. “In the list of 125 candidates, 40% are women and 40% are youth. With this, we aim to give rise to new hope and a new political scenario here. Of the women finalised in the list, a few are journalists, one is an actress, some fight for their rights, some are social workers among others,” she said.
“In the first list of 125 candidates for UP polls, 50 candidates are women, including Asha Singh, mother of the Unnao rape victim. From Shahjahanpur, we have fielded Asha worker, Poonam Pandey who led agitation for a raise in honorarium,” Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said.
The mother of the Unnao victim said, “We do not have anybody in the family. My brother-in-law is in jail. I am fighting this election for getting justice and for my brother-in-law, and I will win the election. I am fighting this election to get justice for the victims of injustice and rape.”
Uttar Pradesh will go to the polls in seven phases on 10, 14, 20, 23, 27 February and 3 and 7 March. The results will be declared on 10 March.