What BJP is planning at Allahabad National Executive meet

When BJP decided to host its National Executive in Allahabad, it was not a coincidence but a carefully calibrated move. 

Having tasted major success in its “Look Eastern UP” policy in 2014, with the then prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi contesting from Varanasi and sweeping over whole of UP, the BJP is, in a way, trying to replicate its 2014 election strategy.

This is for the first time BJP is holding its National Executive in Allahabad, hometown of UP BJP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya and the message is not lost on anybody.

While there are going to be three resolutions – political, economic and one related to foreign affairs – all eyes will be on the political session, which will deal with 2017 elections in five states, including Uttar Pradesh. Though BJP general secretary, Bhupendra Yadav, tried to downplay the excitement surrounding UP by saying that there would be simple strategic discussions on five states which are going to poll in 2017, the explanation failed to satisfy anyone.

A measure of just how important, rather almost a do-or-die like, is the situation lies in the fact that nobody is leaving any chance to impress the party high command. This includes going over the top to prove himself by none other than Varun Gandhi.

One of the main reasons to hold this National Executive in Allahabad was to send a message to its OBC constituency. Keshav Prasad Maurya, the current UP BJP chief, is also from Allahabad and by holding its national executive there, the BJP, on the one hand, is not only trying to reach out to the OBC voters, while, on the other hand, it is also increasing the stature of Maurya.  This is also a big challenge for Maurya as before him a Brahmin has been UP BJP chief for 13 years.

Though sources within the party says that in the National Executive, there would be no separate discussion on UP, but the issues specific to the state will discussed on the sidelines of the meet. On June 13, when PM Modi finishes his speech, there will be a meeting of all MPs of UP with the party national president Amit Shah.

One of the key things that is likely to be deliberated upon is the appointment of Union home minister Rajnath Singh as the campaign committee chief of Uttar Pradesh. There is a strong sentiment within the top brass of the party as well as has the nod from the prime minister that Rajnath Singh should lead from the front and this is likely to find its place in the discussions.

Though till now, Rajnath Singh has not given any positive signal whether he will accept this position or, the top two is keen that he accepts it.

One of the key reasons for this move is Rajnath Singh’s considerable stature in UP. The party high command is well aware that BJP though has several second-rung leaders who are local satraps and wield no uncertain amount of influence in their respective constituencies, but they are also susceptible to potential factionalism and in-fighting within the party, which could well torpedo BJP’s ambitious “Mission UP 2017”.

This is where the party and the top two feel Rajnath Singh fits in perfectly. Rajnath’s stature, as former national president of the BJP as well as UP chief minister, is more than enough to contain the squabbling satraps, whether it is “Young Turk Varun Gandhi” or Yogi Adityanath, and thereby limit the damage.

However, it is more than obvious that the party has no intention of announcing or taking a final call on its CM candidate in this National Executive. Possibly, this decision will be taken later this year, somewhere in the month of October or November.

The biggest challenge for the party is whether Rajnath Singh accepts this decision of the party or not, as he too is aware of the monumental task ahead in UP. He is acutely aware of the fact that if he loses Uttar Pradesh, then his position will be considerably weakened in the Centre.

Between these permutations and combination, the main focus of the speech from both BJP chief Amit Shah and Prime Minister Modi will be on UP. With party's alert response in Mathura helping it seize the narrative there, the party hopes that it can land the electoral prize that is Uttar Pradesh.