Meeting in Delhi sparks speculations over changes in party, govt
LUCKNOW: With assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh just about nine months away, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seems to have pressed the damage control button to counter the reverses in recent panchayat elections and state government’s alleged failure in handling the second wave of Covid-19 in the state.
A high-level meeting of the BJP’s top brass, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in New Delhi recently has added to the speculations about changes in the state party unit and also the government ahead of 2022 assembly elections.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has maintained a studied silence on the issue amid buzz about the likely changes that the party may be contemplating for UP.
In fact, the chief minister continues to reach out to the people, touring villages and urban areas alike, reviewing health infrastructure, boosting vaccination campaign and tightening the administration at grassroots level amid fight against Covid-19.
Known for his Hindutva brand of politics, Yogi has assumed an undisputedly high stature in the party.
His adversaries too have remained cautious.
Those writing letters pointing out towards problems in the state government’s strategy in fighting Covid-19 have refrained from targeting him directly.
Under such a situation, senior BJP functionaries has so far ruled out any possibility of toplevel changes, at least on record. “I don’t think there will be a change at top level in the state party or government. This will not be in the interest of the BJP. Any inductions of new
faces as office-bearer in party or ministers in the government will, however, definitely help rejuvenate the party,” said SK Dwivedi, former head of political science department at the Lucknow University.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi too has lost no opportunity of praising Yogi as he speaks at any public or virtual platform. PM’s close aide and bureaucrat-turned-politician Arvind Sharma’s arrival on the state’s political scenario as BJP MLC has led to speculations about the role, he may get to play ahead of 2022 polls. There has been a buzz that Sharma may be inducted as deputy chief minister or a minister with an important portfolio in the state ministry.
Sharma’s meeting with chief minister last week is also being viewed as an important indication in this regard and has again triggered speculations about the likely changes in the state party unit, a reshuffle in the ministry and induction of more ministers to fill up the vacant posts. .
Arrival of RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale in Lucknow on Tuesday is being used to give some credence to reports that the saffron brigade
was working out strategy for the BJP for 2022 assembly polls in the state. Senior RSS functionaries, however, claim that Dattatreya’s visit has nothing to do with the BJP’s political strategy and the RSS keeps on giving feedback to the party from time to time.
A refocus on Hindutva using construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya to shift focus from panchayat poll reverses and countering the opposition’s attack on the government for ‘failure’ in dealing with the second wave of Covid-19 is, however, not ruled out.
“Covid-19 is going to be under control soon and the people have a short memory about such issues. But they know about Modi and Yogi’s contribution for the cause of temple,” said Dwivedi.
“The BJP may be discussing changes to gear up for UP assembly elections. It may, however, take some time. The spread of Covid-19 is likely to be contained in next few weeks. There should not be any changes in the ministries/ department dealing directly with controlling Covid-19,” said AK Singh, former director, Giri Institute of Development Studies, Lucknow.