he new Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh along with his Cabinet colleagues would take oath on March 19 at 5.00 pm

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Newly-elected BJP MLAs in Uttar Pradesh will be meeting in Lucknow on Saturday to elect the leader of the state legislature party. The meeting will be held at 4 pm at Lok Bhawan, state BJP spokesperson Manish Dixit said. Central observers — Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and national general secretary Bhupendra Yadav — will remain present at the meeting to elect the chief minister.

As speculations were sizzling, both in New Delhi and Lucknow over Union Minister Manoj Sinha's name being considered for the chief ministerialship of UP, Yogi Adityanath, the firebrand Gorakhpur MP and another frontrunner in the race, reached Delhi to hold some last minute discussions with Amit Shah.

As Shah, in a clever political maneuver sidelined Maurya by giving him the responsibility to pick the UP CM, the OBC leader's supporters couldn't accept the change in wind as poignantly as their leader did.

As Maurya consolidated key OBC vote for the saffron party and worked tirelessly for the party's win, their were strong undercurrents supporting his name for the top job in UP. However, the 10 criminal cases filed against him seemed to have got in his way.

As speculations around Manoj Sinha's name warmed up and BJP state unit chief bowed out of the race, Maurya's supporters were apparently miffed.

Keshav Prasad Maurya's supporters stage protest in Lucknow, as OBC leader falls behind in race to UP CM

According to a report in CNN-News18, Keshav Prasad Maurya has requested his supporters, apparently miffed at the news that Maurya could have fallen out of the race to become UP CM, to follow party line and accept the central leadership's decission.

Naidu, while speaking to reporters was also dismissive of the media speculations playing up a few names for the UP top job above others. He said the names doing rounds are mere media speculations, and the final decision will be taken only after the MLAs meet.

Venkaiah Naidu, the saffron party's appointed observer to Uttar Pradesh, has reached Lucknow ahead of the legislative party meet. He has reportedly held unofficial conversations with party workers and key MLAs and will convene the meeting that is to begin at 5 pm today.

Party insiders said the overwhelming mandate has posed a fresh challenge for the BJP to meet sky-high expectations.

After a stupendous win in the Assembly election, the party can ill afford to lower its guard. Uttar Pradesh sends 80 MPs to Lok Sabha and is extremely important in the BJP's scheme of things.

The BJP top brass has taken its time to decide on the UP Chief Minister after results were declared on 11 March. The sources said the party is extra cautious as it is returning to power in Uttar Pradesh after a 15-year hiatus. Moreover, in view of Lok Sabha election in 2019, BJP cannot afford to take any wrong decision, said some party insiders when asked about the delay in declaring the CM's name.

But what's all the hush about UP CM pick when the saffron party got a thumping win?

The news report also said that the BJP national president Amit Shah has been in touch with the RSS leadership and has briefed the right-wing establishment about the top names being considered in the race.

According to a report in NDTV , the news website has learnt from its sources that the Rashtriya Swayam Sangh, the mothership of the saffron party, has pressed in at the last moment to have its say in picking UP CM.

According to ground reporters of CNN-News18, speculations around another name has warmed up in Lucknow, just ahead of the legislative meet. The news channel says Swatandra Dev Singh, a Kurmi leader from Bundelkhand is also in the race now.

Meanwhile.. there is a new last minute entrant to the race of UP CM

While some news report, dubbed it as efforts to pacify the two heavy weight leaders who command huge support base in their respective region, others said it signalled that Yogi Adityanath has re-entered the race to become Uttar Pradesh CM, and might as well be leading the race.

In a move that could be read in contrasting lights, BJP observers, M Venkaiah Naidu and Bhubendra Yadav met Yogi Adityanath and Keshav Prasad Maurya, both of whom are frontrunners in the race to become UP CM.

Meanwhile, CNN-News 18 reported that the BJP could be mulling to introduce two deputy chief ministers in the state, and KP Maurya and Dinesh Sharma are considered to be the frontrunners for the post of second-in-command.

Just as we had all news channels convinced that Manoj Sinha will indeed be the UP CM and it ws near fixed, a sudden surge of speculations around Yogi Adityanath's name sent news organisations into a tizzy.

Given the enormity of BJP’s win in the Assembly elections, BJP is worried about proper representation of various castes that voted for the party. Between Manoj Sinha, Yogi Adityanath, and Keshav Prasad Maurya, the chief minister candidate is likely to come from the Poorvanchal. However, by naming someone from the western belt and a different caste base from that of the chief ministerial pick, can help the party accommodate proper representation to all groups.

As speculations around UP CM pick go haywire, two deputy CMs could be the BJPs masterstroke in the game of castes

According to CNN-News18, Venkaiah Naidu had requested the presence of senior BJP leader Kalraj Mishra to ensure that discipline is maintained amid the supporters of the losing group.

The top contenders in Uttar Pradesh are making the decision really tough for the BJP. In a hurried emergency meet held before the MLAs meeting, Venkaiah Naidu had spoken to Yogi Adityanath, and Keshav Prasad Maurya amid others.

Crowd rooting for Yogi Adityanath has, in the meantime, swelled outside Lok Bhawan and chants of slogans in favour of Yogi Adityanath were heard. As the cavalcade of Adityanath entered the venue, his supporters cheered the Gorakhpur MP as the next UP CM.

Meanwhile... Chants of "Desh me Modi ji Pradesh me Yogi ji" shouted outside Lok Bhawan

This brings to mind the question, who really calls the shot in the saffron party.

Post the dawn of the Modi era, much was said and written about the new BJP that was run like a one-man show (or rather two-men show). Narendra Modi and Amit Shah were considered as the people who pulled the strings. However, the way Manoj Sinha, who was said to be Modi's pick was sidelined, sends a signal that there could have been a last moment intervention by the RSS to get its man appointed at the top job.

Does Yogi Adityanath's name entering the fray at last moment hints at RSS intervention?

Yogi Adityanath was the top trend on twitter, with 10.1 K tweets at the time of writing post. Other hashtags such as #Yogi4CM #yogi and #YOGIFORCM were also gaining traction on the microblogging site.

Meanwhile... whether or not Adityanath wins the race, he is already on top of Twitter trends

Official announcement yet to come even as media calls it for Yogi Adityanath

He should take everyone along: Yogi Adityanath's father to CNN-News18

Speaking to CNN-News18 Manoj Sinha said, "All such races are created by media, the race according to us started today, and it has ended today. He was the first and final pick of the party."

UP CM race only a creation of media, Yogi ji is and was the only choice: BJP's Sardhana MLA Sangeet Som

Before he joined politics, he was a religious missionary and is the founder the Hindu Yuva Vahini

Born on 5 June, 1972, in Panchur district of Uttarakhand, his father, Mahant Avaidyanath Maharaj, too was a religious leader. He graduated from HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar, Uttarakhand with a B.Sc degree.

Yogi Adityanath is a five-time Member of the Parliament from Gorakhpur constituency. He has represented the constituency in the Lok Sabha since 1998. His style of politics is popular in the Gorakhpur belt and he is notoriously famous for his 'ghar wapsi' and 'love jihad' campaigns.

Venkaiah Naidu said that Yogi Adityanath sought the help of two deputies citing the complexity in running a state as vast as Uttar Pradesh. This paved the way for KP Maurya and Dinesh Sharma to be designated as deputy CMs.

Yogi Adityanath was the top trend and Jai Shree Ram, the Hindu chant hailing Lord Rama, was also trending on Twitter. Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh was the most searched keyword on Google as well.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chauhan has said that UP will soon transform into "Uttam Pradesh" under Yogi Adityanath's "able leadership." He said that Adityanath has been an able workhorse of the party and has the welfare of people at his heart. He also said that Adityanath's intent has always been to take everyone forward on the path of development.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chauhan has said that UP will soon transform into "Uttam Pradesh" under Yogi Adityanath's "able leadership." He said that Adityanath has been an able workhorse of the party and has the welfare of people at his heart. He also said that Adityanath's intent has always been to take everyone forward on the path of development.

Speaking to the press after staking claim to form the government, Yogi Adityanath said that he is confident that he will be able to face the challenge of governing the state. He said that he will be able to promote Modi's agenda of Sabka sath sabka vikas, in the state.

Speaking to NDTV correspondent, senior BJP leader Sidharth Nath Singh said that the way Yogi Adityanath is percieved is media's doing, while at heart the five-time MP remains a pro-development leader. He said that the BJP is synonymous to development and nobody and nothing could deter it from that. He also exuded confidence that Adityanath's government will run in keeping with Modi ji's Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas slogan.

Congress Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala has tweeted out the party's official statement, which lists out several of BJP's poll promises. The Congress statement also states that it will continue to be a watchdog for the people, while expressing hope that the new government will rise above everything and work for UP's development.

Congress reacts to Yogi Adityanath's appointment, says 3 power centre's in UP govt show in-fight in BJP

BSP leader Sudhindra Bhadauria has said that the controversial leader's appointment as CM-designate has finally revealed BJP's true colours. Alleging the saffron party of practicing divisive politics, Bhadauria said that the move shows that the BJP has finally given up all pretense of being a development oriented party.

It is difficult to see how Prime Minister Narendra Modi plans to achieve his goal of inclusive development for all by giving the Uttar Pradesh chief minister's chair to a bigoted Hindutva hardliner who has made a career out of inflammatory anti-Muslim rhetoric. This isn't just legitimising the loony Right, but also telling Muslims that they are unwelcome in a state where they form nearly 20 percent of the population.

Narendra Modi, BJP have sold us a Hindutva dummy in the name of vikas

For the first time, it is clear that the BJP is not being surreptitious about its ideological agenda. If it is branded as a hard core Hindutva party, so be it. No apologies required. It's confident that it can accommodate it with its development agenda without a conflict. This could have come from the renewed confidence from the mandate in the state where it mixed Hindu polarisation and issues of development with ease. The results told it that it can take along both. This could be the party's template for all future elections in states across the country.

By appointing Yogi Adityanath as UP CM, BJP has made its boldest ideological statement

I will follow Modi's mantra 'sabka saath, sabka vikas', said Yogi Adityanath after being chosen by the party to be chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. Why aren't many cheering the statement? Well, his track record as a Hindutva firebrand could be a bit unsettling for even those who have weakness for the Hindutva ideology. It is natural for them to be wary of someone who has no qualms about being unabashedly combative when it comes to religion. For those not in the know, he suggested that those who don't practice yoga should leave Hindustan. And those averse to doing suryanamaskar should jump into the sea. Of course, his hard views on the Muslim community are well-known. So when someone like him talks of sabka saath, sabka vikas it has to be taken with a pinch of salt.

Yogi Adityanath says sabka saath, sabka vikas: Why it does not impress many

The selection of the Mahant of Gorakhnath Math as Uttar Pradesh chief minister makes one thing clear: BJP's politics in the state would revolve around hardline Hindutva in the coming days. The choice of the party's top decision-makers has to be deliberate and well-considered. Yogi Adityanath is not likely to be the one to play the soft Hindutva tune after assuming power. But he has to deliver on development too, and too much social tension won't work well for his government. This could sober him down a lot. How he balances both would be keenly watched.

Hard Hindutva to the fore but will pressure of governance be a sobering influence on Adityanath?

Prerogative to choose Chief Minister is always of the ruling party. | Our Statement on appointment of Uttar Pradesh CM pic.twitter.com/F0zy3jUOgZ

Congress Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala has tweeted out the party's official statement, which lists out several of BJP's poll promises. The Congress statement also states that it will continue to be a watchdog for the people, while expressing hope that the new government will rise above everything and work for UP's development.

Congress reacts to Yogi Adityanath's appointment, says 3 power centre's in UP govt show in-fight in BJP

BSP leader Sudhindra Bhadauria has said that the controversial leader's appointment as CM-designate has finally revealed BJP's true colours. Alleging the saffron party of practicing divisive politics, Bhadauria said that the move shows that the BJP has finally given up all pretense of being a development oriented party.

Want to bring good governance in Uttar Pradesh, will work for the poor: Dinesh Sharma, Deputy UP CM designate pic.twitter.com/hgyViOSsi6

"I welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi's post-election statement that a government has to be run through consensus, not majority. I hope the new chief minister of Uttar Pradesh will follow these words. Hope the controversies will remain a thing of the past," Bukhari said.

While Owaisi was vocal on the issue, another prominent Muslim leader, Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari took a guarded approach, hoping Adityanath would shed his controversial past.

"This is Modiji and BJP's new India. But this is not at all surprising. The Samajwadi Party cheated the Muslims when it was in power. And now we will see a model of exclusivist development. This is the 'vikas' they talk about," Owaisi told PTI.

This is an assault on India's age-old "ganga jamuni tehzeeb" -- a fusion of Hindu and Muslim cultures, he said.

​Owasi, a firebrand Muslim leader, said he was the least surprised by the decision.

Yogi Adityanath's elevation as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh is part of Narendra Modi's vision of a "new India", AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi said on Saturday, taking a jibe at the decision.

It is difficult to see how Prime Minister Narendra Modi plans to achieve his goal of inclusive development for all by giving the Uttar Pradesh chief minister's chair to a bigoted Hindutva hardliner who has made a career out of inflammatory anti-Muslim rhetoric. This isn't just legitimising the loony Right, but also telling Muslims that they are unwelcome in a state where they form nearly 20 percent of the population.

Narendra Modi, BJP have sold us a Hindutva dummy in the name of vikas

For the first time, it is clear that the BJP is not being surreptitious about its ideological agenda. If it is branded as a hard core Hindutva party, so be it. No apologies required. It's confident that it can accommodate it with its development agenda without a conflict. This could have come from the renewed confidence from the mandate in the state where it mixed Hindu polarisation and issues of development with ease. The results told it that it can take along both. This could be the party's template for all future elections in states across the country.

By appointing Yogi Adityanath as UP CM, BJP has made its boldest ideological statement

I will follow Modi's mantra 'sabka saath, sabka vikas', said Yogi Adityanath after being chosen by the party to be chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. Why aren't many cheering the statement? Well, his track record as a Hindutva firebrand could be a bit unsettling for even those who have weakness for the Hindutva ideology. It is natural for them to be wary of someone who has no qualms about being unabashedly combative when it comes to religion. For those not in the know, he suggested that those who don't practice yoga should leave Hindustan. And those averse to doing suryanamaskar should jump into the sea. Of course, his hard views on the Muslim community are well-known. So when someone like him talks of sabka saath, sabka vikas it has to be taken with a pinch of salt.

Yogi Adityanath says sabka saath, sabka vikas: Why it does not impress many

The selection of the Mahant of Gorakhnath Math as Uttar Pradesh chief minister makes one thing clear: BJP's politics in the state would revolve around hardline Hindutva in the coming days. The choice of the party's top decision-makers has to be deliberate and well-considered. Yogi Adityanath is not likely to be the one to play the soft Hindutva tune after assuming power. But he has to deliver on development too, and too much social tension won't work well for his government. This could sober him down a lot. How he balances both would be keenly watched.

Hard Hindutva to the fore but will pressure of governance be a sobering influence on Adityanath?

Congress leader Veerappa Moily called it the "biggest assault" on secularism, although the party's official reaction was tempered with caution, saying it will act as "watchdog of people's interest". The BJP, however, stood behind Yogi, notwithstanding his strident pro-Hindutva credentials, insisting he stands for development. Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said UP will benefit a lot from his "competent leadership" and will soon become 'Uttam Pradesh'. Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the lone Muslim minister in the Narendra Modi government, defended BJP's choice of Adityanath, saying he will work for the party's "inclusive growth" agenda.

He openly requested me for two Deputy CMs who would help him as Uttar Pradesh is a big state.The trio will be a good combination: Venkaiah pic.twitter.com/OMeJNMSrzt

Newly-elected BJP MLAs in Uttar Pradesh will be meeting in Lucknow on Saturday to elect the leader of the state legislature party. The meeting will be held at 4 pm at Lok Bhawan, state BJP spokesperson Manish Dixit said. Central observers — Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and national general secretary Bhupendra Yadav — will remain

present at the meeting to elect the chief minister.

BJP vice-president Om Mathur, state party chief Keshav Prasad Maurya and other senior party leaders are also likely to attend the meet.

"The new Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh along with his Cabinet colleagues would take oath on 19 March at 5.00 pm at Kanshiram Smriti Upvan," Governor Ram Naik had said in a statement on Friday.

Union Minister Manoj Sinha, Home Minister and former state chief minister Rajnath Singh, Maurya and eight-time MLA from Shahjahanpur Suresh Khanna are being projected s the main contenders for the post by their partymen.

All these leaders in their interactions with the media have played down their chances.

The BJP is forming government in the politically crucial state after a gap of 15 years. In the recently-concluded Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, the party secured 312 seats in a 403-member house, while its allies Apna Dal (Soneylal) and Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party got nine and four seats respectively.

Samajwadi Party bagged 47 seats, while its ally the Congress stooped to its lowest tally with seven seats. Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party could manage to get only

19 seats in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly.

With the BJP leadership often springing a surprise with its choice of state leaders like Manohar Lal Khattar in Haryana, Vijay Rupani in Gujarat and now Trivendra Singh Rawat in Uttarakhand, sources have said that a relatively lesser known leader cannot be ruled out.

The central observers will most likely inform the MLAs about the BJP top brass' choice which will be subsequently endorsed at the meeting today.