Factional fights mar prospects of BJP in Uttar Pradesh     

During last three phases of polling in Uttar Pradesh, it was observed that lack of enthusiasm in BJP workers affected chances of party candidates. Low turnout of BJP supporters and voters is also reflected by less polling in the areas known as stronghold of saffron party.

Sharp differences between chief minister Yogi Adityanath and his deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya also affected the campaigning. Because of his differences with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya was denied helicopter for five days. Maurya who is backward face of the party was so upset by the treatment meted out to him that he did not go out for campaigning during those days. Deputy Chief Minister Maurya resumed his campaigning only when helicopter was made available to him.

Large scale fighting within BJP reflected in low turnout of public in meetings of PM Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. BJP is experiencing the impact of friction between powerful thakurs and Brahmins especially in eastern UP which was exposed in infamous shoe incident of Sant Kabir Nagar. It would be worth mentioning here that Thakur MLA considered close to CM Yogi Adityanath was beaten up by Brahmin MP through shoes during review meeting of district in the presence of cabinet minister and district officials. BJP cancelled the ticket of culprit MP and made his father as party candidate from different constituency.

Powerful CM Yogi Adityanath who is a poster boy of aggressive Hindutva for party was so upset with the party candidate Bhojpuri Film hero Ravi Ishan Shukla from Gorakhpur that he was not present during the filing of nomination. Yogi Adityanath wanted party ticket to someone of his choice but party opted for Bhojpuri actor that too Brahmin. Yogi Adityanath who heads the Gorakhnath peeth at Gorakhpur is undisputed leader of Thakur community. During last by-election for Gorakhpur, Yogi wanted candidate of his choice but party opted for someone else who ultimately lost.

The infighting in BJP leaders resulted in violence at the party meeting ground at Jalaun before the arrival of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

BJP got the jolt when Supreme Court transferred mafia turned politician Atiq Ahmad to Gujarat following his involvement in kidnapping of businessman. It may be noted that Yogi Government had recently shifted Atiq Ahmad to Naini jail in Allahabad to facilitate him to contest from Phulpur so that he should cut minorities votes to help BJP candidate.

BJP workers are also upset with leadership the manner in which it fielded outsiders as party candidates while ignoring the claims of local leaders. BJP leaders feel that apathy of party workers would also be a major factor in BJP loss in 2019.