UP polls: Yogi Adityanath's front still working against BJP'
Hindu Yuva Vahini has announced candidates in six Assembly seats spread over three districts in the eastern region of Uttar Pradesh.
Lucknow: The expulsion of Hindu Yuva Vahini state chief Sunil Singh, general secretary Ram Laxman and four others by its founder Yogi Adityanath for fielding candidates against the BJP in six Assembly seats in eastern Uttar Pradesh has failed to dampen the spirit of the firebrand Hindu outfit that has turned Mr Adityanath into a cult figure in the region.
Sources said that despite the “action” against the office bearers, Mr Adityanath was tacitly supportive of the “activities of the Hindu Yuva Vahini”.
“The Hindu Yuva Vahini has been ignored by the BJP, which also did not accept our demand for announcing Yogi Adityanath as the chief ministerial candidate. Yogi Adityanath is our patron and cannot expel us without a valid reason. All members of the Yuva Vahini are united in their decision to contest seats and teach the BJP a lesson,” said Sunil Singh.
The Hindu Yuva Vahini has announced candidates in six Assembly seats spread over three districts in the eastern region of Uttar Pradesh. The seats are Padrauna, Khadda, Kasya (all Kushinagar), Paniyara (Gorakhpur) and Siswa and Pharenda (Maharajganj).
Sunil Singh said via telephone that the Yuva Vahini would announce more candidates in the coming days on the 60 seats in Purvanchal region that he had identified.
The Yuva Vahini candidates will challenge the official BJP candidates on these seats and cut into the BJP vote base.
Yogi Adityanath, who has been persuaded by the BJP leaders to rein in his outfit, told reporters that the Yuva Vahini was not a political outfit and would not contest elections. However, after the Yuva Vahini announced candidates, he initiated action.
“He is bound by party discipline and will have to follow the BJP line but we are not BJP members and we will certainly teach the party a lesson in these elections. The BJP always takes advantage of Yogi Adityanath’s popularity but never rewarded him. Time has come for a showdown on this issue”, said another office bearer of the Vahini on condition of anonymity.