In show of unity, RSS, BJP leaders meet in UP

BJP national general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh and UP in-charge Radha Mohan Singh on Tuesday met chief minister Yogi Adityanath, other top state leaders and senior RSS men to take stock of poll preparations, the way forward for the organisation and the state government. The meeting was preceded by visits from CM Adityanath, RSS leaders Dattatreya Hosabale and Krishna Gopal to deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya's house. The move is seen as an effort to put up a united face, "bridge gaps" between the leaders and project a smooth coordination between the BJP and the RSS ahead of the 2022 polls.

This first all-encompassing meeting that extended into the night, was held by the national leadership at the BJP headquarters in Lucknow and was also attended by newly appointed vice president of UP BJP AK Sharma. Veterans, including Laxmikant Bajpai, Ramapati Ram Tripathi and Vinay Katiyar, too attended the BJP meeting. Former Congress leader Jitin Prasada also there in the meeting. The meeting took place in the middle of an elaborate booth level "pravaas" or tour program being undertaken by all ministers, that will continue into July. The ministers remained tight-lipped about the discussions, saying it was a general meeting of the organisation to discuss matters of coordination between the party and the government.

A recent statement by deputy CM KP Maurya that only the "high command will decide the CM face in 2022 elections" had raised questions about unity in the BJP.


Pictures of the senior RSS leaders and CM Adityanath meeting Maurya and his family, including his newly wed son and daughter in law, were also circulated to show that BJP-RSS ties were going fine, and the party was confident of it getting the support of all Hindu groups, including the non-Yadav backward castes who helped it win big in 2017.