Chief minister Adityanath Yogi will meet BJP leaders from 11 districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, described as a brainstorming session to consolidate the party’s grip on a region that helped ensure a saffron sweep in the state.
The BJP won 120 out of the 125 seats in the region in the recently-held assembly elections and made a clean sweep of all districts barring Azamgarh.
Senior BJP leader Upendra Shukla said the leaders will meet at the Gorakhpur unit office of the party in Beniganj.
“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 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.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah have entrusted Adityanath with the task of repeating the party’s performance in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
“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.
{{/usCountry}}“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.
{{/usCountry}}On the eve of the meeting, the BJP leaders were busy giving a facelift to the party office. A cleanliness drive was launched in the surrounding localities.
A senior BJP leader, who did not wish to be named, said the chief minister was planning to limit the activities of his outfit, the Hindu Yuva Vahini (HYV), and concentrate in party affairs.
“Adityanath’s relationship with Hindu Yuva Vahini had gone sour after its leaders revolted during the assembly elections. Though HYV leaders apologised after Adityanath was named chief minister but his trust in HYV has been shaken.
“In the changed political scenario, he has strengthened bond with the BJP leadership. Now, he plans to limit the working of HYV and expand the base of the party,” the BJP leader said.
Adityanath had raised HYV to take on the BJP after it turned down his plea of having a say in ticket distribution during the 2002 assembly elections. Adityanath showed his clout by sending candidates to the legislative assembly.