Yogi raj begins in UP: Oath ceremony tomorrow

18 March, Lucknow

Ending the suspense after a day-long ‘political reality show,’ firebrand BJP Gorakhpur MP Mahant Yogi Adityanath has been elected as the Leader of the BJP Legislature party and thus, will be the 32nd Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.

The name was announced after a consensus approval by all 312 BJP and 13 of the alliance partners MLAs at the Lok Bhawan, here this evening.

The proposal on the name of Yogi was proposed by seniormost BJP MLA Suresh Kumar Khanna and seconded by 11 other legislators. Later, the entire House supported the proposal with slogan of ‘Jai Sree Ram’ and ‘Desh me Modi, Pradesh me Yogi.’

Yogi becomes the fourth CM of UP from the upper caste Thakur community and the first Hindu saint to assume the post.

On the demand of the new CM, two deputy CMs have been approved by the Legislature Party. The two deputy CMs are UP BJP President Keshav Prasad Maurya and Lucknow Mayor Dinesh Sharma.

Informing about the decisions of the Legislature Party, Central observer and Union Minister Venkhiah Naidu told reporters here that the decision of the leader was approved by the Parliamentary board, though during the meeting, he had asked if the legislator had any other name in their mind.

Claiming that the new BJP government will run on the agenda of development and good governance, Mr Naidu said the UP polls have shown the doors to the political parties doing caste and religion vote politics in the state.

He said they would be meeting Governor Ram Naik this evening, to stake claim to form the government and the oath ceremony will take place tomorrow at 1415 hrs.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP National President Amit Shah, along with several other Union Ministers and Chief Ministers of NDA-ruled states would be present.

The designated CM did not speak to the media, but said that he will talk after taking the oath tomorrow.