Farmers Movement Archive

BJP executive meet to signal political spadework for 2022

Lucknow: With UP BJP all set to convene its much-awaited state executive meet on Friday, all eyes will be on the party’s resolutions that could mark the beginning of the political spadework to take on a belligerent opposition in the run-up to the high-pitched assembly elections next year. While the final blueprint of the resolution will be hammered out after a high-level meeting of the state BJP brass on Thursday, party sources indicated development with focus on ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’, Covid management in anticipation of a third wave, farmers’ issues and concerns related to youth may prominently figure in the state executive, which is scheduled to be virtually addressed by BJP national president JP Nadda. Covid management has been a key agenda of BJP, which has been rolling out its machinery to shoulder government efforts to mitigate the crisis under its flagship slogan — ‘Sewa Hi Sangathan’. It has been a worrying factor too with the opposition, mainly the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party, unleashing a frontal attack on the state government, accusing it of mishandling the second Covid wave. The farmers’ issue too, holds much political relevance in the wake of protests by the agrarian community against the Centre’s new farm laws. The BJP, sources said, would attempt to neutralise the unrest in the agriculturally rich west UP region, which comprises 125 assembly seats. The saffron party, sources said, would escalate its farmers’ outreach to counter an aggressive Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait, who has been aligning with the opposition to dent BJP’s prospects of returning to office after 2022 assembly elections. Hailing from Muzzaffarnagar in west UP region, Tikait has been rolling up his sleeves to spearhead the farmers’ stir against new farm laws while positioning himself squarely against BJP-ruled states. Last month, Tikait had signalled a strong message to the BJP brass by meeting West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee to congratulate her on her party’s win against BJP in the recently held state elections. Party sources said, the meet is likely to take up pro-farmer measures initiated by the Narendra Modi government at the Centre and Yogi Adityanath-led UP government. Focus is likely to be on the recent increase in minimum support price (MSP) for wheat and significant clearance of cane dues in last four years of BJP rule. The executive meet is also expected to brainstorm on employment opportunities for youth who have been hit by the pandemic. The BJP government in UP, as a matter of fact, has been drumming up its initiatives to generate employment, including in the government sector. The BJP executive meeting comes days after BJP swept zila panchayat and block level chairperson elections to cement its footprint in rural swathes which hold the key to 2022 polls.

The Times of India

2021-07-15

Lucknow