Yogi Adiyanath is in Delhi meeting BJP leaders ahead of government formation in UP
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi this evening, three days after he won a second consecutive victory for the party in the state elections, besting Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav.
"Met Yogi Adityanath ji today. I congratulated him on the historic win in the UP elections. In the last 5 years, he has worked tirelessly to fulfill the aspirations of the people.I am sure that in the years to come, he will take the state to greater heights of development," tweeted PM Modi after the meeting that lasted two hours.
On agenda, say sources, were the cabinet discussion for the new government in Uttar Pradesh. The swearing-in ceremony date was also discussed during the meeting, they added.
In one of the biggest upsets in an otherwise spectacular show, the party's number two in Uttar Pradesh, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, lost the election. He lost in Sirathu by around 7,000 votes, to Samajwadi Party ally Pallavi Patel of the Apna Dal (Kamerawadi).
Besides Keshav Maurya, 10 more ministers lost the election.
Yogi Adityanath's second deputy, Dinesh Sharma, did not contest the election.
The party has to clarify if Mr Maurya will stay as Deputy Chief Minister or another leaders will replace him. Sources say, Mr Maurya can still take the legislative council route.
Yogi Adityanath was a member of the legislative council until he contested his first assembly election this time and won from the Gorakhpur Urban constituency.
After meeting the Prime Minister, Yogi Adityanath met BJP president JP Nadda.
Earlier in the day, the UP Chief Minister met BJP general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu.
The BJP won 255 seats in the 403-member assembly. Its two allies secured another 18 seats.