In what comes as a breather for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) amid several defections to the Samajwadi Party over the last few days, former IPS officer Asim Arun has joined the saffron party ahead of the high-voltage Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
Welcoming Asim Arun in the party, Anurag Thakur said, “A person who is experienced, honest and is ideal for the youngsters is joining the BJP today. I welcome Asim Arun. BJP will move forward with his experience and more youths like him will join BJP.”
It may be seen as a relief for BJP amid the row of resignations from multiple MLAs a few weeks ahead of polls. While joining the party, Asim Arun said, “I am happy, satisfied, I have got a chance to serve the public. This decision was not easy for me as on one side there was a job, on the other hand, there was an opportunity for public service.”
BJP released its first list of candidates on Saturday and pitched UP’s current CM Yogi Adityanath from Gorakhpur city. PM Modi had launched various projects in Gorakhpur in December, including AIIMS Gorakhpur.
Earlier there were speculations of Adityanath contesting from Ayodhya, however, now it is clarified that he will be contesting from Gorakhpur.
BJP has denied tickets to sitting MLAs and given tickets to 21 new faces. To balance out the seat distribution, 10 seats have been given to women, 44 to OBCs, and 19 to SC candidates accounting for 60 percent of the seats in the first two rounds.
The elections for 403 assembly seats will be conducted in seven phases starting February 10. The last phase will be conducted on March 3.