UP polls: Revolt in BJP over promotion of Rajnath Singh's son

Lucknow: Anxious not to let internal dissent derail its poll campaign in Uttar Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party today tried to stem the revolt in the party's state unit following the appointment of senior leader Rajnath Singh's son Pankaj Singh as general secretary.

BJP president Nitin Gadkari tried to send out a strong signal to party leaders as he said that Pankaj Singh was "competent" and would continue in the general secretary's post. Those opposed to his appointment had now been convinced and there was no problem within the party on the issue, Mr Gadkari said.

Cracks had surfaced in the BJP's UP unit on Sunday with three party secretaries resigning from their posts in protest against Pankaj Singh's promotion as general secretary.

Mr Singh too held the post of state secretary before he was promoted as the seventh general secretary of the BJP's UP unit. BJP sources had pointed out that the party constitution allowed for the appointment of only six general secretaries.

BJP general secretary Vindyavasini Kumar had said that he had no official information that the three secretaries, Daya Shanker Singh, Ashvani Tyagi and Santosh Singh, had quit.

Advertisement

But Daya Shanker, who was the BJP candidate from Ballia in the last election, told PTI yesterday that he had sent his resignation to Mr Gadkari and forwarded a copy to state president Surya Pratap Shahi.

In his resignation letter, Daya Shanker, who is also former state president of the party's youth unit, said that a change in post was not justified during the elections and pointed out that his work and contribution should also be evaluated.

Advertisement

He had also confirmed the resignations of Santosh Singh and Ashvani Tyagi, though they could not be contacted.

All three had been pressing for a ticket in the UP assembly polls. While Daya Shanker was keen to contest from Ballia again, Ashvani Tyagi and Santosh Singh were seeking tickets for Bilhaur in Meerut and Lucknow East seats respectively, sources said.

(With PTI inputs)