New BJP government in UP likely on Sunday

The swearing in of a new BJP government in Uttar Pradesh will most likely take place on Sunday, party sources said on Friday.

The oath taking ceremony of the new Chief Minister and the cabinet was likely to be a grand affair with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah attending the event.

An estimated one lakh people are also expected to attend the ceremony at the Kashiram Smriti Upvan in the evening.

Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states are also likely to attend.

While no official announcement has been made so far about the next Chief Minister, the sources say the name of union minister Manoj Sinha has "more or less been finalized" by Amit Shah.

A formal announcement will be made on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Rahul Bhatnagar and Director General of Police Javeed Ahmad presided over a high-level meeting on Friday to take stock of the preparedness for the mega event.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is returning to power in the country's most populous state after a gap of almost 15 years. It won 325 seats along with its allies in the 403-member House.

--IANS

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