When BJP president Nitin Gadkari arrives in Lucknow on July 4 on his first trip to Uttar Pradesh, he will have an onerous task before him.
Party cadres in UP are waiting with their bundles of demands, suggestions and complaints to greet the party president whose two earlier visits to UP have been cancelled at the last minute.
The BJP president is mainly coming to Lucknow to attend the wedding reception of state UP BJP president Surya Pratap Shahi’s son. However, he will also be addressing party workers at a function and will interact with senior leaders during the day.
Mr Gadkari is also scheduled to hold deliberations with Sangh leaders and finalise the name of the leader who is to be appointed party leader in charge of UP.
“Mr Gadkari will discuss the issue with Sangh leaders because the state unit does not have an in charge as yet. A number of issues cannot be sorted out unless we have an in charge who can act as a bridge between the state and central leadership. The in charge must be able to rise above factionalism and build a rapport with all the leaders,” said a senior party functionary.
The BJP president, in his interactions with state leaders, is expected to discuss the issue that tops the party’s priority list — that of the BJP’s revival in UP.
“He will seek suggestions from all leaders regarding the party’s revival in UP. He will discuss the prevailing political situations, the state of the party organisation and also the reason for the party’s downslide,” the functionary added.
Meanwhile, party cadres are also ready with their complaints and suggestions when they meet the party president for the first time.
“We will definitely talk to him and inform him of the problems plaguing the state unit of the BJP, mainly the outsized egos of the state leaders. We will also request him to let the party adopt an aggressive posture on Hindutva since that has been the mainstay of the party’s ideology. Most importantly, we will ask him to ensure that our leaders do not cut through each other’s statements since this lowers the party’s image,” said a BJP district president.
Meanwhile, the state BJP unit is preparing to roll out the red carpet for Mr Gadkari. Welcome arches from the airport to the party office are being put up and the party office is also being spruced up for the occasion.