Keshav Prasad Maurya Back in saddle as Uttar Pradesh deputy CM
Lucknow Mar 25 PTI Despite having lost the recent Assembly elections Keshav Prasad Mauryas continuation as UP deputy chief minister speaks volumes about his popularity and hold over the backward classes whose crucial support was instrumental in the BJP retaining power in the state The 52-year-old leader lost from Sirathu by nearly 7000 votes leading to speculations of his omission from the new Adityanath-led government But the party reposed its faith in him Coming from a humble background his political career started during the Ram temple movement under the guidance of Vishwa Hindu Parishads Ashok Singhal BJP insiders say Maurya helped his parents in agricultural work ran a tea shop and also sold newspapers in his early days He also remained a pracharak of the VHP and the Bajrang Dal for 18 years Though his electoral journey witnessed early defeats Maurya won from Sirathu seat as a BJP candidate in 2012 Maurya came into limelight in 2013 when he led a protest against the arrival of a Christian missionary in a college of Allahabad In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections he was fielded by the party from Phulpur and won the seat with a record number of votes His real test came in 2016 when he was made the state president of the BJP and he undertook extensive tours of the state to muster the support of the backwards His hard work paid off as the BJP defeated the ruling Samajwadi Party in the elections winning 312 of the 403 seats with the allies chipping in with 13 more seats Maurya was made the deputy chief minister in the previous government He resigned from Parliament and was elected to the upper house of the state legislature PTI AR SAB RDK RDK
Lucknow Mar 25 PTI Despite having lost the recent Assembly elections Keshav Prasad Mauryas continuation as UP deputy chief minister speaks volumes about his popularity and hold over the backward classes whose crucial support was instrumental in the BJP retaining power in the state The 52-year-old leader lost from Sirathu by nearly 7000 votes leading to speculations of his omission from the new Adityanath-led government But the party reposed its faith in him Coming from a humble background his political career started during the Ram temple movement under the guidance of Vishwa Hindu Parishads Ashok Singhal BJP insiders say Maurya helped his parents in agricultural work ran a tea shop and also sold newspapers in his early days He also remained a pracharak of the VHP and the Bajrang Dal for 18 years Though his electoral journey witnessed early defeats Maurya won from Sirathu seat as a BJP candidate in 2012 Maurya came into limelight in 2013 when he led a protest against the arrival of a Christian missionary in a college of Allahabad In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections he was fielded by the party from Phulpur and won the seat with a record number of votes His real test came in 2016 when he was made the state president of the BJP and he undertook extensive tours of the state to muster the support of the backwards His hard work paid off as the BJP defeated the ruling Samajwadi Party in the elections winning 312 of the 403 seats with the allies chipping in with 13 more seats Maurya was made the deputy chief minister in the previous government He resigned from Parliament and was elected to the upper house of the state legislature PTI AR SAB RDK RDK
