Yogi Adityanath Elected As Leader Of BJP Legislature Party In UP, To Take Oath As CM On Friday

Yogi Adityanath will now meet Governor Anandiben Patel and stake his claim to form the government in Uttar Pradesh.

Yogi Adityanath. (File Photo/ AFP)

Lucknow: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Chief Minister-designate Yogi Adityanath was elected as the Leader of the Legislative Party in Uttar Pradesh on Friday evening. 

The announcement comes after a high-level meeting held at Lok Bhawan in Lucknow which was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who has been nominated as an observer for Uttar Pradesh and co-observer and former Chief Minister of Jharkhand Raghubar Das.

According to reports, Yogi Adityanath will now meet Governor Anandiben Patel and stake his claim to form the government in Uttar Pradesh.

Reacting to the development, Adityanath praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said it has happened under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

"For the first time a CM completed his 5-year tenure and the party came to power once again for the second time (in Uttar Pradesh). This has happened for the first time. It has happened under the guidance and leadership of PM Modi," news agency ANI quoted Adityanath as saying after the legislative party meeting.

Adityanath has also set a personal record of being the only Chief Minister to win an election and enjoy a second consecutive term in Uttar Pradesh. 

Adityanath reached the national capital on Wednesday evening to discuss government formation in the state with the party's Central leadership.

The swearing-in ceremony will be held on Friday at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium in Gomti Nagar. It is being said that as many as 46 leaders will take oath along with Adityanath in the mega event which will be attended by top BJP leadership including PM Modi, Amit Shah and others.

BJP party workers from different states have also been invited to the mega event. The venue has the capacity to accommodate 50,000 people.

The stage for the VIPs has been prepared in the northern end of the stadium. A small area right before the main stage has been allocated to the media.

A five-time MP from Gorakhpur, Yogi Adityanath has been elected for the first time from Gorakhpur (Sadar) seat in the just-concluded Assembly polls in the state. He was elected to the state legislative council on September 8, 2017 after he became chief minister.

(With inputs from agencies.)