A day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won an unprecedented second term in Uttar Pradesh, chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday met governor Anandiben Patel to tender his resignation, as his first tenure came to an end. The governor accepted Adityanath’s resignation and requested him to continue as the caretaker chief minister till the formation of the new government, said an official release issued by the Raj Bhavan.
According to people aware of the developments, the swearing-in ceremony may take place after Holi, which is on March 18.
The BJP and its allies won 273 of the 403 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh. Adityanath, who won his maiden assembly elections from Gorakhpur Urban constituency by a huge margin of 103,390 votes, is set to become the first chief minister to return to power in Uttar Pradesh after completing a five-year term. The BJP is the first party to retain power in the state since 1985.
“Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has met governor Anandiben Patel and handed over the poll results showing the BJP’s victory. The governor has accepted his resignation and asked him to continue till alternative arrangements are made,” people aware of the developments at Raj Bhavan said.
Earlier in the day, Adityanath chaired the last meeting of his outgoing cabinet and thanked the people of Uttar Pradesh for extending their support to the BJP in the state assembly elections, an official spokesperson said.
{{/usCountry}}Earlier in the day, Adityanath chaired the last meeting of his outgoing cabinet and thanked the people of Uttar Pradesh for extending their support to the BJP in the state assembly elections, an official spokesperson said.
{{/usCountry}}He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership and guidance, the spokesperson added.
The process for the formation of the new government may technically begin only after the Election Commission of India (ECI) notifies the constitution of the 18th state assembly. “Once, the ECI notifies the setting up of the new assembly, the process for formation of the new government will begin,” said a senior officer familiar with the matter.
Before going to Raj Bhavan, Yogi Adityanath presided over a meeting of the state cabinet that expressed its gratitude to the people for the BJP’s victory. The state cabinet also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his “leadership and guidance”.
“Efforts were made in the past five years to provide an atmosphere of security, provide basic infrastructure facilities and benefits of government schemes without and discrimination with the PM’s sabka saath, sabka vikas motto. The state government’s efforts have brought positive changes in Uttar Pradesh,” said the resolution.
The BJP won 255 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh. Its allies Apna Dal (S) and Nishad Party bagged 12 seats and six seats, respectively.
The Samajwadi Party won 111 seats and its alliance partners Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party and Rashtriya Lok Dal got six and eight seats, respectively.
The Congress and the Jansatta Dal got two seats each and the Bahujan Samaj Party bagged one.