Yogi Adityanath Takes Charge, Seeks Free Hand In Crucial UP By-Polls

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is leading Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) campaign for the upcoming by-polls in 10 assembly seats, has reportedly sought a free hand in this effort.

This comes after a meeting between the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) held at Adityanath's residence on Wednesday (21 August), followed by his visit to New Delhi on Thursday (22 August) where he met senior BJP leaders.

Indian Express reported that Adityanath held individual talks with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda in New Delhi.

During the meeting, he reportedly requested a free hand in selecting candidates, planning the campaign strategy, and assigning tasks to party leaders.

Earlier, it was said that Adityanath's suggestions in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were ignored, leading to the party's decline to 33 seats from 62 in 2019.

His suggestions for candidates, inputs regarding assignments to grassroots workers and campaign plans were allegedly not factored in.

Reportedly, Adityanath also opposed the lengthy election process, which spanned seven phases from 19 April to 1 June, due to the peak summer heat in Uttar Pradesh.

After the disappointing results for the BJP on 4 June, Adityanath started focusing on the 10 assembly seats, which would have by-polls due to MLAs of nine seats winning Lok Sabha elections and one MLA getting convicted.

Earlier, he held two meetings for the by-polls without involving deputy chief ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak and UP BJP's president Bhupendra Chaudhary and general secretary Dharampal Singh.

However, after the rifts between Adityanath and Maurya were settled due to the intervention of senior BJP and RSS leaders, the deputy CMs joined the by-poll meetings held this month and even got responsibilities.

Even now, it appears that assigning them seats for by-polls is just customary as Maurya has been given the relatively safer seats of Phulpur and Majhawan in the Mirzapur district.

On the contrary, Adityanath has taken it upon himself to win the Milkipur seat in Ayodhya and the Katehari seat in Ambedkar Nagar, both had a Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA and carry a question of prestige with them.

This is because the BJP's loss in Faizabad, of which Ayodhya is a part, is being used by the opposition to humiliate the party, as the loss comes after the much-awaited inauguration of the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir.

The Milkipur seat became vacant after SP leader Awadhesh Prasad won the Faizabad seat. Adityanath now wants to avenge the Faizabad loss by winning Milkipur. Similarly, Katehari was vacated by another senior SP leader Lalji Verma.

Adityanath has been frequently visiting the two seats. This month, he held four events in these two constituencies or nearby areas, including rozgar melas (employment fairs) last week.

The UP CM has also appointed three ministers from his cabinet to each of the 10 seats. He is directly monitoring the ground reports from all 10 seats, prepared by his trusted aides, and is finalizing the candidates.

Adityanath's desire for control over the poll preparations is evident from his insistence on holding a Wednesday meeting at his residence, despite the RSS suggesting it be held at the BJP office.

Apparently, Adityanath perceives these by-polls as a litmus test for his leadership for the 2027 UP assembly elections, where BJP would be eyeing to overcome an anti-incumbency of 10 years.