UP BJP veterans to be rested

There is bad news for the veterans in the UP BJP which is all set to get younger and more youthful.

The party’s new executive committee, which will be announced sometime in May, will do away with more than 60 per cent members from the outgoing team.

The BJP high command is keen to end factionalism in the state unit by keeping the veterans out of the area. “New and young members do not have factions of their own and their loyalties are with the party. Such members will be a part of the time while the veterans can take some rest now,” said a party functionary.

According to sources, there are going to be sweeping changes and a large majority of the executive committee will comprise young leaders since the BJP state president Keshav Maurya is also young — just 46 years old.

“We cannot saddle him with veterans because they will refuse to obey his diktats and will tread their own path,” a said the party leader.

The BJP plans to challenge the youth base of the Samajwadi Party by promoting youth in a big way.

“The youth are largely disappointed with the Samajwadi government which has failed to give them employment and with a young president and a young team, we can wean away young voters to a considerable extent,” the leader explained.

The new committee will have only about 40 per cent members from upper caste while the remaining 60 per cent will be from OBC and dalit caste groups.

This is in conformity with the party’s new policy to focus on OBCs and dalits for the 2017 UP Assembly elections.

In an interesting development, majority of those who had been a part of the outgoing committee headed by Mr Laxmikant Bajpai will not find a place in the new committee and five of the eight organisation secretaries will be changed.

“Those who will be included in the new committee will be those who will not contest elections. Those who are keen to try their luck in the elections will not be a part of the committee,” the leader informed.

The party this time wants every member of the state organisation to devote full time to poll management and if anyone is keen on contesting polls, he cannot be entrusted a job in the organisation.

This means that leaders like Pankaj Singh, son of Mr Rajnath Singh, and Swatantra Dev Singh will not be a part of the state executive since they are both lobbying for a ticket in the Assembly polls.