Bypoll results force BJP to put off UP cabinet expansion

The drubbing in recent byelections of Kairana and Noorpur has forced Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to put off the expansion of  his cabinet. It is believed that the party wants to accommodate a few more disgruntled allies into the ministry to prepare for the upcoming  parliamentary polls.

Initially, the party high command was ready to go for the expansion, immediately after bypolls. But after the results were out, it has changed its priority. The saffron party is now focusing on to find out a strategy to take on the newly formed grand-alliance (BSP, SP, Congress and RLD), which led to the defeat of the BJP.

According to a party spokesperson, who does not wish to be identified, before the cabinet expansion, the party will do a comprehensive analysis of Kairana and Noorpur results. During this analysis, the party will find out how to deal with the impact of the grand alliance and subsequently some new faces will be inducted into the ministry, representing different castes. The BJP would also consolidate its region-wise social engineering formula to hone its poll strategy. Some more leaders will be inducted into the party organisation to assuage discontent.

Insiders say that the party’s top bosses are quite disturbed by the results of Phoolpur, Gorakhpur, Noorpur and Kairana, where the party cadres failed to pull the voters in favour of the BJP.

In Kairana, Jats did not vote in large number for the party. Besides, Mulsims, too, drifted away. The party finds these trends quite disturbing.

Another problem which the BJP is confronting in the state is sporadic rebellion by its allies like  Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party and Apna Dal. A few of its own leaders have publicly come out against the party.

A section of leaders in the BJP strongly feels that the party should first address these issues, only then it should go for expanding the cabinet.