Suspense over new CM likely to end today
The suspense over the new chief minister is likely to end on Saturday evening when the newly elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs elect the leader of the legislature party in the meeting to be held in the newly constructed Vidhan Bhawan. However, sources said a national leader was likely to propose the name of the new CM.
Even as speculation ran high over the probable chief minister of the state, a large number of newly elected MLAs thronged the BJP state unit office early Friday morning. A BJP leader said, “The message has been sent to the 312 party MLAs to attend the meeting that will commence at 4.30 pm.”
The names of the possible CM candidates- Union home minister Rajnath Singh, Union telecommunication minister Manoj Sinha, BJP state unit president Keshav Dev Maurya, BJP MP from Gorakhpur, Yogi Adityanath, Mayor Dinesh Sharma, MLAs Shrikant Sharma, Satish Mahana , Suresh Khanna and senior leader Ram Lal did the rounds. Central observers, Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu and national general secretary Bhupendra Yadav will be present in the legislature party meeting. Both are expected to arrive in the city on Saturday morning. The new CM will take oath on Sunday evening in the programme organised in Kanshiram Smriti Upvan.
Along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, national president Amit Shah, union ministers, chief ministers of BJP-ruled states and senior BJP leaders will attend the swearing-in ceremony. There was hectic activity in the state unit office as several senior MLAs were seen lobbying for minister’s post. “It’s not clear how many ministers will take oath with the CM,” said a BJP leader, adding that the names of the ministers would be finalised only after the election of the new CM. “The political developments in Goa and Manipur delayed the appointment of CM in UP,” said another leader. Several MLAs visited the estate department for allotment of official residence. Majority of the new MLAs were seen requesting for a house near the Vidhan Bhawan. An estate department officer said, “To avoid dispute, we have adopted a formula under which the house vacated by the MLA who lost the election will be allotted to the MLA who secured victory from the seat.” The MLAs who secured victory would retain their houses, he said.