Uttar Pradesh BJP kicks off process to elect district chiefs

LUCKNOW: The UP unit of BJP on Wednesday kicked off its organisational churning at the district level, positioning itself as a key stakeholder in election of national BJP president, the post currently occupied by home minister Amit Shah .


Top party sources said as the election for the new BJP chief is to be completed by December 15, the state BJP brass has been thrown into an overdrive to complete the process of electing district chiefs by the end of November.

This could also be the team of party functionaries which would take on the opposition in the next UP assembly elections due in 2022.

The UP unit of BJP currently classifies 94 districts and around 1,500 divisions in the state, which is highest in the country. It is the district and divisional chiefs who elect the national party chief. The party has already decided to increase the tally of its district chiefs by adding four new 'districts' - Lalganj ( Azamgarh ), Aonla ( Pilibhit ), Macchilshahr (Jaunpur) and Shahjahanpur Nagar - taking the tally to 98. Besides, the number of divisions are also proposed to be go up to 1,918.

State BJP sources said a special 'patrak' (folder) has been designed by the party, encompassing all rules and regulations for election of district chief. According to it, the age bar for district chief and divisional chief is between 45 years to 55 years.

"The young leadership needs to be promoted in the party," said a senior BJP functionary closely associated with the exercise.

"The BJP is the only cadre-based party which gives a chance to new leadership," said UP BJP spokesperson Chandra Mohan, who is also election in charge of Baghpat district.

He said election of district chief would be based on inclusion of all castes and creed. "The motto of 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas' would be there in the election of district unit chiefs," he said.