BJP MLAs in catch-22 situation as supporters line up with requests

Few days back at a video conference convened by Bharatiya Janata Party leadership to take stock of the Covid-19 situation in Uttar Pradesh (UP), around 180 ruling party lawmakers and ministers had admitted that the rate of infection in the state was quite rapid.

A lawmaker, who had attended the video conference later, disclosed that the party leadership had advised its MPs and MLAs against writing letters on Covid situation that go viral.

Yet, the MLA admitted, the situation is such, that if they don’t speak up, they run the risk of incurring the wrath of their supporters.

“You meet any MLA or MP of any party at the moment, and all will tell you the kind of pressure they are facing from their supporters. Being a MLA from a ruling party means added responsibility and people are coming to us with the hope that we would be able to arrange ICU beds, oxygen cylinders, ambulances, food.” a BJP MLA said. “With less than a year to go for 2022 UP assembly polls the pressure is all the more. We have to speak up for our people else they will not back us in the elections” the MLA said on condition of anonymity.

Another BJP MLA said, “My phone keeps ringing till my battery dies down and as soon as I charge it, it starts ringing again.”

Kaushal Kishore, BJP MP from Mohanlalganj who had first flagged the demand for postponing panchayat polls and “save lives” has now raised the issue of oxygen supplies not being provided to private hospitals.

Prakash Dwivedi, the BJP MLA from Banda who had also demanded postponing panchayat polls has now tested positive for Covid-19.In his letter to chief minister Yogi Adityanath he had requested that panchayat polls be postponed to stop the surge of Covid in villages. The BJP had on Wednesday announced that helpdesks would be set up in the districts to help the people.