BJP meet to strengthen party’s hold in east UP

GORAKHPUR: To consolidate and expand the base of the BJP in east UP, chief minister Aditya Nath Yogi will hold a meeting of leaders from 11 districts at the Gorakhpur unit of the party in Beniganj on Sunday. Senior leader of the BJP Upendra Shukla said the leaders would discuss plans to strengthen the party in east UP.

“BJP MPs, MLAs, MLCs, office-bearers and workers will attend the meeting. The CM has directed the BJP leaders to prepare a work plan for the expansion of the party’s base in the region,” Shukla said.

The party bagged maximum number of seats in east UP in the 2014 Lok Sabha election as well as 2017 assembly election.

Except Azamgarh, the BJP won maximum number of seats in remaining districts in the recent assembly elections. The challenge before the BJP is to maintain its hold in the region and to counter the plans of the SP and the BSP to regain lost ground. PM Modi and BJP president Amit Shah have entrusted Aditya Nath with the task of repeating the party’s performance in the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

“He has started working on the mission. BJP plans to launch a massive membership drive in east UP to win over SP and BSP members,” Shukla said.

On the eve of the meeting, the BJP leaders were busy giving a facelift to the party office.

A senior BJP leader, who did not wish to be named, said: “Yogi’s relationship with Hindu Yuva Vahini had gone sour after its leaders revolted during the assembly polls. Though they apologised after he was named chief minister, his trust in HYV has been shaken. Now, he plans to limit the working of HYV and expand the base of the party.”