And the next chief minister of Uttar Pradesh is...
Uttar Pradesh has given its verdict. It's thumps up for the BJP. After sweeping UP in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the state has again witnessed a surging “Modi wave”.
TsuNamo has decimated all the opposition parties. After getting more than 300 seats in the 403-member Legislative Assembly of UP, the speculation has now shifted to the probable chief ministerial candidates from the BJP.
Let's have a look at strengths and weaknesses of the potential CM candidates from the now victorious BJP camp.
Keshav Prasad Maurya
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| Photo: Indiatoday.in |
He’s the state president of the BJP in UP and a prominent non-Yadav OBC leader.
Known for his organisation skills, Maurya is a big face within the saffron camp in UP.
Plus points:
1) Maurya is perceived to be close to both Narendra Modi and Amit Shah as well as to the RSS.
2) He fits right into BJP's rainbow social formation going beyond caste calculations only.
3) He has worked for the Ram Mandir movement and is a Hindutva ideologue.
Minus point:
However, Maurya has no administrative experience, and is a first-time MP. Also, there are a number of court cases against him, some of which are criminal cases, which might work against Modi’s anti-corruption crusader image.
Rajnath Singh
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| Photo: Indiatoday.in |
The Union home minister is easily the tallest leader of UP and is a reliable Thakur face.
Plus points:
1) Rajnath Singh has been a chief minister twice before, so administrative experience is a big strength. In addition, he has also been the BJP national president, which adds immense organisational skills to his kitty.
2) He has a clean image, and is the biggest leader among the Thakur clan.
Minus points:
1) However, Singh might not be interested in shifting base from the Centre, where he’s the number two in the Union Cabinet.
2) He may not enjoy the BJP high command’s unstinted support in case he shifts tp UP, because his opponents may not accept him and can lead to attrition.
Yogi Adityanath
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| Photo: Indiatoday.in |
The five time Lok Sabha MP from Gorakhpur is a big draw for the eastern parts of UP, and a prominent Hindutva icon who is known for his “love jihad” remarks.
Plus point:
1) His Hindutva credentials is a strength within the BJP camp, and the stronghold in Eastern UP is a reason why he’s among the strongest contenders.
Minus point:
1)) However, Yogi is too polarising a figure, and may not suit the post of the chief minister, which is a prestigious administrative post.
2) He’s also not popular among his fellow leaders and may not be appreciated by the Modi-Shah high command.
Manoj Sinha
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| Photo: Indiatoday.in |
He’s a three-time Lok Sabha MP who has immense administrative skills.
Plus point:
1) Thrice elected to Lok Sabha, Sinha has both organisation and legislative experience. In addition, his clean image is a plus.
Minus points:
1) He comes from the numerically insignificant Bhumihar caste, and may not add to BJP's rainbow social coalition.
2) Also, he’s not a very dynamic leader, and may not be a glamorous choice for the post of the UP chief minister.
Mahesh Sharma
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| Photo: Indiatoday.in |
The Union minister of culture and tourism is also a significant contender for the post of the chief minister of UP.
Plus points:
1) Sharma’s administrative and organisational skills are no secret, and is also close to both Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.
2) In addition, he’s associated with the RSS and is close to the Sangh. Hardly any corruption cases against him and that makes him a strong candidate.
Minus point:
However, his sphere of influence limited to Noida and he has already been embroiled in controversies, particularly in his suggestion to grade artists, or shrouding the deceased murder accused, part of the lynchmob that killed Akhlaq in September 2015, with the national flag.
Dinesh Sharma
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| Photo: Indiatoday.in |
He’s the mayor of Lucknow and BJP’s national vice president.
Plus point:
1) Known for his proximity with the party high command, and it was on his invitation that PM Modi had come to Lucknow’s Ramlila Maidan last year.
Minus point:
1) Not known outside Lucknow and hasn’t won any big election.