Brahmin Mishra named BJP’s UP poll in-charge

NEW DELHI: Former Uttar Pradesh (UP) BJP president and LK Advani’s favourite Kalraj Mishra was appointed poll in-charge for the state on Tuesday.

The Rajya Sabha MP will work with the overall UP election in-charge, general secretary Arun Jaitley.

The appointment follows some earlier moves to replace state BJP president Ramapati Ram Tripathi with Mishra. The news was leaked before it could happen, putting off party president Rajnath Singh. The moves came to a nought as Rajnath stood firm behind Tripathi.

The installation of Mishra as election in-charge is a special arrangement to find a way out and give him a key role in the run-up to the elections.

UP, with 80 Lok Sabha seats, occupies a key position in the contention for power at the Centre. The BJP’s fortunes have, however, been on the downslide lately and its tally failed to reach double digits in the 2004 elections.

The BJP hopes Mishra, with a good hold over party workers and wide acceptability, would help swing its fortunes. His being a Brahmin is seen as an added advantage. He is not likely to contest, though. Mishra is also likely to be useful in the post-poll scenario of the NDA requiring more allies to form a government. He was the only leader to state that the break-up with Mayawati was a mistake. He could be the buffer in the party for trying to get Mayawati’s support if the need arises.

s_rajesh@dnaindia.net