The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced election in-charges for five states- Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur. The party has appointed Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as the election in-charge of Uttar Pradesh, while Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi has been appointed in-charge of Uttarakhand.
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will lead the party’s election campaign in Goa. Union Minister G Kishan Reddy and MP Darshan Jardosh have been appointed as co-in-charges for the assembly elections in the state.
For Punjab, BJP has appointed Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat as election in-charge, while Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and Meenakshi Lekhi have been appointed as co-incharges.
Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav has been given the charge of Manipur. Union minister Pratima Bhowmik and Assam minister Ashok Singhal have been appointed as co-in-charges for the assembly elections in the northeastern state.
Elections will be held in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Manipur and Punjab next year.
In four of these states, BJP is in power while Punjab is ruled by Congress. Opinion polls suggest that the BJP is expected to return to power in UP and Uttarakhand, while the Congress and AAP may face a tough fight in Punjab.
Uttar Pradesh is crucial for the BJP, which would like to win the state for a second consecutive term as it will help the party set the stage for the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. The ruling party, however, is facing challenges in the western part. of the state where the farmers’ movement can disturb the arithmetic.
In 2017, the BJP won 312 out of 403 assembly seats with a vote share of nearly 40%.
Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party, which came in second, was reduced to just 47 seats, 177 less than it won in 2012.
Don’t miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint.
download
Our App Now!!
.