Urban polls: UP BJP leaders to tour state

The Yogi Adityanath government in UP has deputed senior leaders, including deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya, to reach out to the electorate in an attempt to maintain BJP’s traditional edge in the upcoming polls to urban local bodies.

"Senior BJP leaders, including Maurya and urban development minister Suresh Khanna, will interact with locals, particularly traders, who are not happy with the government following implementation of GST," a UP BJP member told ET on condition of anonymity. Maurya and Khanna would be visiting Kanpur and Agra among other places ahead of the polls, which are likely to be held in November, party members said.

BJP has already demonstrated its seriousness regarding these polls by planning a manifesto for the first time ahead of the election to urban local bodies. On Sunday, senior BJP leaders including MLAs gathered at CM Yogi Adityanath’s residence in Lucknow to discuss the strategy for the polls. “The party has asked MLAs to avoid seeking ticket for their relatives or family members.

BJP MLAs who are from urban parts have been asked to coordinate with party organisation for ensuring a good show in the polls,” a BJP member said. UP has 16 municipal corporations, 198 nagar parishads and 42 nagar panchayats.

The Yogi government recently got Mathura-Vrindavan and Ayodhya-Faizabad upgraded as municipal corporations.