Amit Shah meets UP MPs, to keep visiting state

Ahead of the crucial Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, BJP president Amit Shah has decided to visit the state regularly to meet cadres and get updates on various election related activities. Mr Shah held a meeting with party’s UP MPs earlier this week, who gave him feedback on various issues from their respective constituency on preparedness for the coming electoral battle.

The BJP president asked the legislators about factionalism in the state unit, a worrisome issue for the central leadership. Mr Shah, it was learnt, also sought feedback on Phulpur MP, Keshav Prasad Maurya’s appointment as the state unit chief.

Mr Maurya, who belongs to the OBC community, was named BJP’s UP unit chief in April after the party leadership extensively deliberated on the issue, keeping the caste politics of the state in mind.

Some MPs, sources said, also held one-to-one meetings with Mr Shah. Of the 71 BJP MPs, 12 including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Rajnath Singh, did not attended this meeting, which took place after the party’s national executive meet concluded.

Sultanpur MP Varun Gandhi also skipped the meeting held late Monday evening. Mr Gandhi said he had taken permission from the party to skip the event.

After facing flak over its poll strategies in Delhi and Bihar, which forced it to change its approach for the Assam election, the BJP has decided to go for regular surveys and reviews so that its poll strategy is based on ground realities and feedback from cadre and the people.

The BJP strategy also includes assessment of its opponents and their strategies. Mr Modi had also told party leaders in the just-concluded national executive that they should not take their opponents lightly