Stage set for U.P. BJP chief's election, several names doing the rounds

THE COMPLETION OF ELECTION OF STATE PRESIDENTS WILL CLEAR THE DECKS FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF THE BJP.

- Brajendra K Parashar

LUCKNOW: The long-awaited announcement of new BJP district presidents in Uttar Pradesh has set the stage for the overdue election of the party's state president, intensifying the race for the top organisational post in the state with several names already in circulation.

The delay in finalisation of the district presidents' names was stalling the state president's election that the party had initially decided to complete by January end. But even after rounds of meetings and discussions at various levels in Lucknow and Delhi, the party has been able to announce presidents for 70 of the 98 organisational districts. The number is enough to pave the way for the election of the new BJP chief in Uttar Pradesh.

Some names for the new party chief in UP are already doing the rounds. Among them are Swatantra Dev Singh, a minister in the Yogi cabinet and a key OBC leader, BL Verma, a minister in the Modi government and OBC leader representing the Lodh community, Amar Pal Maurya, a Rajya Sabha MP and state general secretary coming from the OBC, Dinesh Sharma, former deputy chief minister and Rajya Sabha MP who comes from upper caste Brahmin community and Laxmi Kant Bajpayee, a Rajya Sabha member and former UP BJP chief belonging to the Brahmin community in Meerut.