LUCKNOW: BJP national president J P Nadda’s scheduled visit to Lucknow on Thursday — the first after taking over reins of the party a year ago — could potentially set the ball rolling for mobilization of organisational functionaries in the run-up to panchayat elections, considered a semi-final to the high-stakes assembly elections next year.
Nadda would hold meetings with party functionaries and cabinet ministers and provide a thrust to the party organisation, amid growing assertion by the Opposition, particularly Samajwadi Party.
“His (Nadda’s) visit would help the party gain additional traction in days to come,” UP BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh said, while speaking to reporters on Wednesday. BJP sources said, the party chief is expected to assess performance of ministers in the Yogi Adityanath cabinet, just months before the government completes its fourth year.
Political experts said, BJP usually runs a pre-poll campaign before any crucial election and Nadda’s meeting with party functionaries would chart out programmes ahead of 2022 assembly elections. Party leaders said, Nadda is likely to focus on stronger coordination between the party and state government during his serial meetings on Thursday. Also, he’s scheduled to meet a host of district presidents to reach out to grassroots party functionaries.
Nadda’s visit comes close on heels of PM Narendra Modi’s trusted bureaucrat Arvind Kumar Sharma joining BJP and getting nominated to the Upper House. Sharma’s nomination to the Legislative Council had sparked speculation about his possible induction in the state government. As a matter of fact, the BJP chief would reach Lucknow on a day when all 12 MLC candidates — 10 of BJP and two of SP — would be announced elected unopposed.
Just before 2019 Lok Sabha elections, BJP had appointed Nadda, then Union health minister, as UP in charge, replacing senior party leader Govardhan Zadaphia. Nadda’s appointment was then seen with curiosity as he could not do much as party in charge of Telangana.