Adityanath wasn't Modi's choice, claim senior BJP leaders

Party wary that Modi could be losing support among moderate Hindus

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BJP's Yogi Adityanath (C) elected leader of the BJP Legislature Party (Chief Minister Uttar Pradesh) K P Muriya (L Deputy CM) and Dinesh Sharma (R Deputy CM) showing victory sign after the meeting in Lucknow

Archis Mohan New Delhi

Last Updated : Mar 20 2017 | 9:05 PM IST

Possibly because the party is apprehensive that Prime Minister Narendra Modi might lose his support base among the educated middle class, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders on Monday claimed that the PM had no role to play in the choice of Yogi Adityanath as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.

Twenty-four hours after Adityanath was sworn in as the UP chief minister, even the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has distanced itself from playing any role in the 44-year-old five-time Lok Sabha member being elected the UP CM by BJP legislators. The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has not only congratulated the