The BJP in UP is now busy fighting over the leader’s post for the BJP legislature party without even stopping to ponder over its biggest debacle in Uttar Pradesh.
Sources in the BJP said that while one faction was keen to get Kalraj Mishra appointed to the post of the party’s legislature party leader, another faction wanted Uma Bharti to be crowned the leader.
Mr Mishra’s supporters feel that the veteran leader has enough legislative experience and would perform the role of the leader with ease, while his detractors feel that he is not aggressive enough to fit the bill.
“We have the youngest chief minister in the House and most of his ministers are also going to be young. We need someone younger and more energetic in the house. Mr Mishra can play the role of a patron of sorts,” said a newly-elected BJP MLA who felt that Mr Hukum Singh or Mr Laxmikant Bajpai would be better suited to the post. Another faction in the UP BJP is pleading the case of Ms Bharti as the leader of the legislature party but her detractors, that include several legislators, are opposed to the proposal. “She is not familiar with UP politics and if we put her in the driving seat, things will go awry from day one itself. We need someone who has greater experience,” said a party MLA.