Deputy CM’s remark that the RSS was bigger than the government underscores the growing rift with the chief minister who has been projecting his larger-than-life image
Team Clarion
LUCKNOW – The equation in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh is not the same after the party’s rout in the recent general elections. Recent developments suggest significant differences between key figures in the state government, particularly between Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya.
Maurya’s recent trip to Delhi to meet BJP National President JP Nadda has fueled speculations about internal strife. His statement at the BJP’s state working committee meeting, asserting that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is more significant than the government, has been seen as a provocative move. Political experts interpret Maurya’s repeated visits to Delhi as indicative of ongoing disputes within the Yogi administration.
According to sources, Maurya met with Nadda on Tuesday evening, having previously sought time for this meeting. BJP state president Bhupinder Singh Chaudhary is also scheduled to travel to Delhi, where he is expected to meet Nadda on Wednesday. These high-level meetings are occurring amidst rumours of potentially significant changes within the party and government in Uttar Pradesh.
A close associate of Maurya revealed, “The meeting with JP Nadda had been pre-scheduled, but the timing raises questions. Why meet Nadda in Delhi just days after he was in Lucknow?” This visit has been interpreted as an effort to apply pressure on Chief Minister Adityanath.
During the state working committee meeting, Maurya’s remark that the RSS was bigger than the government underscored the growing rift with the chief minister who has been projecting his larger-than-life image. Maurya’s remarks are being perceived as an attempt to assert his influence within the party, suggesting that he might be positioning himself for a larger role.
Meanwhile, BS Chaudhary’s impending visit to Delhi is also seen as significant. Sources suggest that his discussions with Nadda and other senior leaders could indicate strategic planning within the party, possibly addressing the tensions between the government and the Sangh.
These developments point to a period of uncertainty and potential upheaval within the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, with the relationship between Adityanath and Maurya at the centre of the speculation. As the situation unfolds, all eyes will be on how the BJP navigates this internal discord and what changes, if any, will emerge in the state’s political landscape.