‘Teni’ sidelined? Min absent at PM’s meet with UP MPs

Venkatesh Kesari (with agency inputs)

New Delhi: In a subtle signal that the BJP may be having second thoughts about defending Union Home Minister Ajay Mishar ‘Teni’ over the minister’s son’s alleged involvement in the Lakhimpur Kheri firing on farmers’ protests, the controversial minister was excluded from a key breakfast meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday at the Prime Minister’s house, which saw all BJP MPs from Uttar Pradesh in attendance.

Unable to decide whether the controversial union minister Ajay Mishra ‘Teni’ - a member of the Brahmin community that has steadfastly voted for the BJP - is an asset or a liability at a time when the opposition have made Mishra’s removal from the cabinet an issue inside and outside parliament, the opposition is pressing the demand after realising that the Modi dispensation is on the defensive.

Insiders admit however that the BJP’s weak defence of the minister stems from their plans to distance themselves from him, as any open support could appease the Brahmins but also antagonise farmers.

While the Opposition has nothing to lose in sharpening their attack on Ajay Mishra, the BJP managers are assessing whether or not his continuance will help the party in the upcoming assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.

Interestingly, neither the allies nor the friendly parties of the BJP are taking any position on this issue and thereby compelling the BJP, the Yogi and the Modi governments to defend themselves. Aside from the 36 MPs, the meeting was also attended by BJP president JP Nadda and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi. While sources said the prime minister mostly discussed “non-political” issues and it was more of an informal meeting over breakfast, insiders said the PM brought up the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, and advised the MPs to regularly hold sports competition to develop a culture of fitness among common people. Emphasising the need to continuously stay in touch with people, Modi urged the party leaders to hold regular talks with senior people in their respective constituencies and engage with people beyond politics, and most intriguingly told them to not expect VIP treatment and avoid VIP lounges when they are at airports to catch a flight when they should queue alongside ordinary passengers.

The MPs applauded Modi for the Kanshi Vishawanath corridor while specifically mentioning that the PM having a lunch with the construction workers of the corridor has gone well with masses in UP.

This was the fourth meeting of the prime minister with BJP MPs in different batches during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament. He has so far met MPs from northeastern states, southern states and Madhya Pradesh.

The BJP is fighting elections in UP in alliance with Nishad Party and Apna Dal (S). Assembly elections in UP will be held early next year.

In the 2017 assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP had swept the polls and won 312 seats. While SP bagged 47 seats, BSP won 19 and Congress only managed to win seven seats.