Ram Shanker Katheria to continue political journey in Uttar Pradesh

LUCKNOW: The BJP had been grooming Ram Shanker Katheria as its Dalit face in Uttar Pradesh and his exit from the Union Council is likely to see him assuming an important role in the party organisation. Controversies dogged the two-term MP from Agra ever since he was made the junior HRD minister in November 2014. While his performance in the ministry was matter for concern for BJP bosses, Katheria was also bogged down by a controversy over a fake degree and an alleged hate speech he gave over the killing of a VHP worker.

However, senior BJP leaders said that Katheria has organisational skills and would soon be drafted for the UP election campaign and given a prominent role. The BJP brass feels it has politically invested quite a lot in promoting Katheria, a popular Dalit face from Agra region, the epicentre of SC/ST politics in UP. He was earlier promoted as national general secretary of the BJP by party chief Amit Shah.