UP BJP MLAs meeting tomorrow to elect leader

LUCKNOW: Newly-elected UP BJP MLAs will meet here on March 18 and are likely to elect their legislature party leader, a week after the party won the assembly elections with three-fourth majority.

“Party’s central observers — Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu and national general secretary Bhupendra Yadav — will be present at the meeting on Saturday at 5 PM,” UP BJP general secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak told PTI here.

Asked specifically as to whether there was any likelihood of an election for the post of the leader of the legislature party, Pathak avoided a direct reply, saying, “I can’t say.”

With various pros and cons weighing heavily on their mind, BJP top brass has kept pending the decision on the next chief minister despite winning 325 seats along with its allies in the 403-member House.

Sources said the party was extra cautious as it does not want to take one wrong step when it comes to Uttar Pradesh, where it stormed to power after a 14-year hiatus. Uttar Pradesh sends 80 MPs to Lok Sabha and is extremely important in the BJP’s scheme of things.

Party insiders said the overwhelming mandate has posed a fresh challenge for the BJP to meet sky-high expectations.