Don’t lobby for tickets for kin: Yogi to ministers, MLAs
LUCKNOW : Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday called upon ministers and MLAs not to lobby for tickets for their relatives in the urban local bodies’ election likely to be held in November. Preference will be given to loyal party workers, he said.
Addressing the ministers, MLA and MLCs at a meeting called to discuss the strategy for the urban local bodies’ election, Adityanath said the election committee constituted by the party will select the candidates.
The ministers and MLAs will campaign for candidates in the respective constituencies, he said. Urban development minister Suresh Khanna blamed the Samajwadi Party (SP) government for flaws in the delimitation of wards.
“The BJP government tried to correct errors within a limited period. We were left with no option but to go for the election. Had the election been delayed, the opposition would have blamed the state government and moved court. Later, the delimitation work will be completed,” he said.
The BJP’s state secretary (organisation) Sunil Bansal said, “Leaders are not above the organisation. It will be the duty of the leaders and workers to secure the victory of the candidates finalised by the party.”
State BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey urged ministers and MLAs to take the urban local bodies’ election as a challenge.
“Party leaders should work with zeal to ensure the victory of the candidates for the posts of mayor, Nagar Palika Parishad chairman, Nagar Panchayat chief and corporator,” he said.
He said, “Priority will be given to workers and office bearers of the organisation in distribution of tickets. Those who have joined the BJP recently will not be considered for the urban bodies’ election. The workers who did not get tickets in the assembly election or lost the polls will be also given preference.”
Deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and Dinesh Sharma urged the MLAs to put their energy in the election. The party leaders should highlight the welfare and development schemes launched by the state and central government, Maurya said.
The BJP leaders who lost in the assembly election were also present in the meeting.