BJP names 6 ‘warriors’ for ballot battle in UP

The Bharatiya Janata Party has identified six ‘warriors’ who will help the party win the electoral battle in western Uttar Pradesh, which has already emerged as a saffron bastion following the polarisation of voters on communal lines.

These six warriors who will play an important role in the party’s campaign in the region are Union ministers Mahesh Sharma and Sanjeev Baliyan, former minister Ram Shankar Katehria, MP Hukum Singh and MLAs Sangeet Som and Suresh Rana.

The strategy assumes significance in view of the fact that the BJP’s Parivartan Yatra in west UP has not received expected response form the people. “These six leaders will play an active role in the campaign. They wield considerable influence in their respective constituencies and are also aware of the issues before the voters. As the elections draw near, their roles will become more visible,” said a senior party functionary.

Sources say Mr Sharma, MP form Gautam Buddha Nagar, enjoys the confidence of the PM, party chief Amit Shah and the RSS, and will oversee the campaign in western UP. He played a proactive role during the Dadri lynching incident in 2015. Mr Baliyan, MP from Muzaffarnagar, also wields considerable influence among Jats in the region.

He was part of a maha panchayat in September 2013, which was held despite prohibitory orders and allegedly inflamed tensions that led to Muzaffarnagar riots. The BJP plans to use him to counter the limited influence of Rashtriya Lok Dal in west UP.

Kairana MP Hukum Singh is a BJP veterans and is known for his popularity in the Gujjar community. He had raised the Kairana migration issue earlier this year and will be used to polarise the Gujjar community in the BJP’s favour. Former Union minister Ram Shankar Katehria, who was elected from Agra, will be used to attract dalit votes in west UP. Mr Katehria is known for his popularity among dalits. BJP MLA from Sardhana in Meerut, Sangeet Som is already known as the ‘Yogi of the West’, and came to limelight for his aggressive Hindu politics. Suresh Rana is MLA from Thana Bhawan in Shamli. Both the MLAs are accused in the Muzaffarnagar riots.

These two MLAs will be the foot soldiers of the BJP in the upcoming Assembly elections and the party will use these two legislators to win over the youth.