Shah meets top BJP leaders from UP on seat allotment

BJP President Amit Shah held long meetings with top party leaders from Uttar Pradesh to finalise party candidates for more seats even as disaffected leaders and their supporters held protests against the choice of candidates in several constituencies.
Groups of party leaders and workers raised slogans at the BJP headquarters against party nominees while some others protested outside Shah's residence.
BJP has so far named 149 candidates for the 403-seat assembly polls and more names will be announced following the next Central Election Meeting likely to be held tomorrow.
Carrying placards and shouting slogans, a group of party workers from Gautam Buddha Nagar expressed anger over allotment of tickets to defectors from other parties and ignoring claims of loyalists.

Senior party leaders, however, played it down, saying such protests are common and understandable during ticket distribution process.
"It in a way also shows that BJP is being seen as a winner and that is why there are so many contenders for its ticket," a leader said.

(REOPENS DEL1)
Meanwhile, Naidu said the new chief minister of the state will be elected by the legislators in a meeting later in the day and all reports in this regard are mere media speculation.
He was speaking to newspersons on his arrival at Lucknow airport this morning.
"The news reports about CM contenders and probables is media speculation. The final decision would be taken in the meeting," he said.

Meanwhile, party leaders said that invitation for Sunday's swearing-in ceremony has been sent to all the CMs of BJP-ruled states.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah will also attend the ceremony.
According to the Raj Bhavan, the timing of swearing-in ceremony has been advanced, and it is now likely to be held at 2.15 PM tomorrow.