Not good news coming from Uttar Pradesh as far as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are concerned.
The PM, on Saturday, is scheduled to visit his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi and hold a rally in Ghazipur, and BJP’s allies in the state, the Apna Dal and the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) have decided to stay away from the events.
Ashish Patel, the state unit chief of Apna Dal, said his party was immensely hurt by the arrogant attitude of the BJP leaders in Uttar Pradesh, accusing them of insulting party leaders and the weaker sections of the society. Patel also said that till the matter between the two allies was not settled Apna Dal will not attend any government programmes.
Patel said his party leaders will not attend the events scheduled to be held in Varanasi and Ghazipur, demanding Modi’s intervention in sorting out the matter of the increasing divide between the two parties who contested the 2014 Lok Sabha and 2017 state assembly polls together.
This is the first time that Apna Dal has taken such a tough stance. The party is not only annoyed by the alleged ‘continuous neglect by the Yogi Adityanath government,’ but is also angry at the fact that Union Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel is not invited to the events related to her ministry.
Joining the Apna Dal, the SBSP has also decided to stay away from Prime Minister’s programmes. This development is being viewed as a big blow to the BJP as Modi is scheduled to release a commemorative postal stamp on Maharaja Suheldeo in Ghazipur where he will also address a public rally.
The SBSP has claimed that the party chief and state Minister for Backward Classes Welfare Om Prakash Rajbhar’s name has been deliberately omitted from the invitation card.
While the Apna Dal has two Lok Sabha MPs and 9 seats in the 403-member state Assembly, the SBSP has four legislators in the state.
Modi would be visiting his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi where he will inaugurate the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC).
He will also attend the One District, One Product Regional Summit at Deendayal Hastakala Sankul (Trade Facilitation Centre & Crafts Museum).
(With agency inputs)