NEW DELHI: In what is seen as a move to provide UP CM Yogi Adityanath a higher profile, the leader presented BJP’s political resolution at the national executive meeting on Sunday and was the only chief minister from poll-bound saffron states to be present in person at the meeting here on Sunday.
While other BJP CMs of states headed for polls attended the meeting through video conferencing from the state party headquarters along with state presidents, Yogi was in the capital, with the perch accorded to him indicating the party’s endorsement of his leadership and his crucial role in helping BJP return to office in UP early next year.
A win in UP is seen as a launch pad for BJP’s effort to pull off an unprecedented third consecutive electoral win in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. The presentation of the political resolution at the national executive is often done by a senior party leader as it is considered a significant document envisaging the party’s vision and schemes on which its governments perform.
In 2017 and 2018, senior Cabinet minister and former party president Rajnath Singh had moved the political resolutions in the national executive meetings. Asked about the party’s decision to field Adityanath, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the UP chief minister, on his performance, deserved it.
“Why should we not choose him? He is running the government in the most populous state. Everyone knows his work during the Covid pandemic — be it for migrant labourers or creating jobs in villages. He has been a senior MP in Parliament. Why should we not call him to place the political resolution? We will surely do,” Sitharaman said.