Trouble brews for BJP across Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow: With Assembly elections in the state fast approaching, there is trouble brewing in the west, east and central Uttar Pradesh for the BJP.

The party that only a few weeks ago seemed poised to form a government in UP, is now finding itself on slippery ground. As resentment over ticket distribution gains ground, a plethora of problems are emerging from various regions of the politically crucial state.

In western UP, the simmering anger of the jat community has left the saffron party on a rough wicket. Through a series of khap panchayats, the jats, who are seeking reservation at the Centre, has issued a call to defeat BJP candidates and the resurgence of the Rashtriya Lok Dal could upset the BJP apple cart.

Trouble is also brewing in eastern UP’s saffron bastion. BJP MP Yogi Adityanath’s supporters are reportedly “furious” at the fact that he was not named as the chief ministerial candidate. Mr Adityanath’s Hindu Yuva Vahini is now planning to field candidates in about 20 seats in and around Gorakhpur.

Another BJP ally in Purvanchal, the Bhartiya Samaj Party, is also driving a hard bargain for seats. The factionalism in Apna Dal refuses to go away and this is also bad news for the BJP.

In central UP, it is the “outsiders” who are making the going tough for the BJP. Former BSP leader Swami Prasad Maurya, who was inducted into the BJP with much fanfare, is sulking because his supporters, including his son and daughter, were not given tickets.

“I am in a wait-and-watch mode and are in touch with the party president. I will see what happens and then decide,” Mr Maurya said.

Mr Maurya, sources said, is in touch with the SP and the Congress, and may spring a surprise if his demands are not met.