Uttar Pradesh chief minister to be decided on Saturday, says Keshav Prasad Maurya
The BJP is yet to declare its chief minister in Uttar Pradesh, sparking speculation on who will be the choice of MLAs meeting on Saturday
BJP president Amit Shah’s remark on Thursday that he had given Keshav Prasad Maurya the responsibility to select the CM gave rise to conjecture within the party that Maurya, who is BJP’s OBC face in UP, is out of the reckoning. Photo: PTI
New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Keshav Prasad Maurya on Friday said the state legislature party will decide on the chief minister on Saturday.
“Legislature party will decide who will be the chief minister. The oath taking ceremony will be on 19 March and all national leaders of the party will attend the ceremony,” he told reporters outside Parliament.
Maurya, who was admitted to hospital yesterday after he complained of uneasiness, said he was “fully well” now.
“There were slight problems and I was taken to hospital yesterday. I was discharged from hospital yesterday only. I am now fully well,” he said.
Repeatedly asked about the possible candidates for the chief minister’s post, he said, “There will be a legislature party meeting tomorrow at 4pm. You will get to know tomorrow as to who will head the government.”
Maurya was also asked about BJP president Amit Shah’s remark yesterday that he had given Maurya the responsibility to select the CM.
“It was said in a lighter vein. Whatever is my responsibility as party’s state president I will fulfill that,” he said.
Though the BJP has formed governments in Manipur and Goa, it is yet to declare its chief minister in UP where it has got two-third majority.
The selection of chief minister in UP is crucial for BJP as the person would be expected to steer the party in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in the crucial state.
There were conjectures within the party after Shah’s remark as to whether Maurya, who is BJP’s OBC face in UP, is out of the reckoning.
