Narendra Modi's growing clout: BJP names Amit Shah as party's in-charge in Uttar Pradesh

NEW DELHI: BJP president Rajnath Singh has announced the names of the party's in-charge in 30 states, displaying in the process the growing clout of Gujarat chief minister NarendraModi in organisational matters as his key associate, Amit Shah, has been put in command of the politically crucial Uttar Pradesh.

Modi's imprint is discernible, in fact, in the selection for all states in the Hindi heartland barring Madhya Pradesh, whose chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is touted by many as a possible rival to the Gujarat leader.

The list announced on Sunday does not, however, include the in-charge for Delhi, which is headed for elections later this year, along with Rajasthan, MP and Chhattisgarh.

Shah's appointment as general secretary in-charge of UP sends out a clear message that Modi will play a critical role in the country's most populous state, which is considered critical for the battle for forming the government at the Centre. A section of the BJP is counting on Modi to turn the tide back in the party's favour in the state.

Shah, a former home minister of Gujarat and an accused in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh staged encounter case, is expected to begin his new assignment on May 29 by courting arrest as part of the party's nationwide agitation against price rise, corruption and security.

He was appointed as one of the ten general secretaries in Singh's team in March, when Modi was inducted into the party's parliamentary board. Shah will be assisted in UP by Trivendra Singh Rawat, Rameshwer Chaurasiya and Satyendra Kushwaha.

Ananth Kumar has been retained as the in-charge in MadhyaPradersh, where the chief minister is said to take all important decisions. DharmendraPradhan and JP Nadda, seen to be close to the Gujarat chief minister, will continue to handle the party's affairs in Bihar and Chattisgargh, respectively. Pradhan faces a challenging assignment as Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has said his JanataDal (United) party will walk out of the coalition with the BJP if Modi is projected as the prime ministerial candidate of the alliance.

In Rajasthan, RSS nominee Captan Singh will oversee the working of the party in the poll-bound state. Bhupendra Yadav, who is considered close to both Sangh and Modi, will be assisting Captan Singh in the state. Rajnath Singh confidante Ramapati Ram Tripathi will be in charge of Jharkhand.