Uttar Pradesh: Will BJP opt for a dalit state unit president?

LUCKNOW: After two major developments in UP BJP, the next big question is: Who will be the state chief? The answer could be out very soon.
The first development saw two consequences: One Swatantra Dev Singh resigned and the other Deputy CM Keshav Maurya replaced him as the leader of legislative council. In this case, even though an OBC has replaced an OBC, the fact that Keshav Maurya carries the image of a stronger OBC leader cannot be ignored.
Experts claim that the appointment of Maurya both on deputy CM’s post despite a loss had gone down well with the OBCs. The present move will make them happier. Now with a strong OBC leader heading the legislative council and a Brahmin leader like Brajesh Pathak being a deputy CM, a Dalit could be in the race to be the next UP BJP chief.
Besides, in the second development, Dharmapal Saini, an OBC, has replaced Sunil Bansal as general secretary (organization). Sources said though caste of the organisation secretary is never an issue in the BJP, but assuming his caste is being taken into consideration, this would further neutralise the chances of an OBC becoming the next UP BJP chief.
Two upper castes on the CM and deputy CM post and one OBC leader on two important roles, the probability narrows down to a Dalit leader as the next BJP chief, say political observers.
Sources said that a final decision on who the next BJP chief is likely to be taken in a day or two. During the discussion, Dharmpal is also likely to be present. Although Dharmpal is not new to UP politics, he will have to match up to the line drawn by his predecessor, Sunil Bansal.
Since 2014, when Sunil Bansal came to UP as co-election in charge in the team of Amit Shah, who was then UP in charge of the BJP, the party has not lost any big election or performed badly. Bansal was appointed UP BJP organisation secretary in June 2014.
The Bharatiya Janata Party won a record 73 Lok Sabha seats in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, followed by a win in municipal corporations’ polls, Vidhan Sabha polls 2017, Lok Sabha 2019, assembly elections 2022 and panchayat elections.