E-Paper
Yogi, other UP BJP leaders meet Amit Shah, Nadda in Delhi
Suspense over naming of four MLC picks and possible expansion of the Yogi Adityanath ministry in Uttar Pradesh may end soon
The suspense over the naming of four MLC picks and possible expansion of the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh is likely to be over after Thursday evening’s consultation that the chief minister had with Union home minister Amit Shah in Delhi.
The presence of UP BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh and state general secretary (organisation) Sunil Bansal at Adityanath’s meeting further hinted towards the possibility.
“The suspense would now surely be over. Which way the decision would go isn’t known but now the suspense would soon be over for sure,” a BJP leader said.
BJP president JP Nadda was also present during the meeting at Shah’s official residence.
Many, including those within the BJP, have linked the delay in announcing the MLC picks to the views within the party not just over MLC names, but also over the utility of going in for a much-anticipated expansion of the Yogi Adityanath government. One of the claimants for a MLC berth, as well as minister’s post, is Nishad party leader Sanjay Nishad, who had recently met Shah and BJP chief JP Nadda in Delhi.
The buzz is some of the MLC picks could also become ministers in the Adityanath government which has about seven vacancies. However, party leaders cautioned that until an official announcement was made, nothing was sure. One party leader said with elections a little over six months’ away, the constitutional provision of becoming a member of either house of the state legislature after becoming a minister may not matter.
“So, in a way one can be made a minister even without being made an MLC,” a party leader said.
“A discussion in this regard was held in the presence of BJP chief JP Nadda as well but as of now, nothing is known beyond it. I have a hunch that the expansion is happening. I am saying expansion, because the likelihood of any ministers being axed so close to the elections doesn’t seem likely,” a BJP leader said.
Four names are doing the rounds as likely candidates for MLCs. They include former Union minister and Congress heavyweight Jitin Prasada, who recently switched loyalties to the BJP. The name of former UP BJP chief Laxmikant Bajpai is also being discussed.
“Both are Brahmin leaders and if one is made MLC, the other would surely contest the 2022 UP polls. I guess the dilemma could be on whether to make Prasada an MLC or get him to contest the 2022 UP polls,” another BJP leader said. Sanjay Nishad of the Nishad party is another prime candidate for the MLC’s post.
“There is also a woman and a party functionary in contention,” a BJP leader said.
Yet another BJP leader said that with several Opposition leaders in touch, the party could well be mulling accommodating a big Opposition name as MLC.
“In any case, we are expecting the names to be declared anytime now. Various discussions have been held and a final decision has been reached and I guess should be made public in a couple of days,” the BJP leader said.
