The BJP won 73 out of total 80 Lok Seats from UP in 2014 polls but since then there is consistent decline in the popularity of party which was reflected through poor performance of party in assembly and Lok Sabha by-polls and recent panchayats polls.

The present president of UP BJP Luxmikant Vajpai took over in 2012 and he himself is MLA and was given credit when party did well in nagar palika polls but when party could not perform in by-polls for assembly and panchayats the party high command is on look out for a new face.

Much significance is being attached to recent visit of veteran BJP leader and Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh to state capital where he celebrated his 84th birthday with great fanfare and his supporters had come from different part of the state.

The political analysts give much importance of Kalyan Singh’s visit to Lucknow at a time when BJP RSS and VHP leaders are talking about Ram temple at Ayodhya. It may be mentioned here that Kalyan Singh had been chief minister twice and the Babri Masjid demolition took place in December 1992 during his chief ministership.

The political analysts feel that veteran BJP leader Kalyan Singh could be the new face to lead the party for 2017 assembly polls. The presence of Kalyan Singh may help in polarizing the voters along communal lines and Kalyan may help in bringing to the fold of BJP backward and rajput votes.

During his stay in Lucknow, Kalyan Singh also stressed on the need for construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya and said that it should be resolved at the earliest.

When asked about the possibility of leading the party in UP, Kalyan Singh said that he was satisfied being Governor but at the same time he said that party would decide his future action.

The political analysts feel that as a part of strategy BJP-RSS-VHP leaders revived the Ram temple issue which included 51-kalash yatra of ashes of late Ashok Singhal to important places in the country.

It was not a coincidence that Hindutva leaders started talking about Ram temple and collection of stones in Ayodhya was made more visible.

Significantly Union Minister Kalraj Mishra who greeted Kalyan Singh on his birthday in Lucknow told media that party high command would decide about future role of Kalyan Singh.

Senior BJP leaders now say that besides projecting Kalyan Singh as Hindutva leader, the party could also tell masses about the achievements of Kalyan Singh government in UP especially control over law and order and corruption.

The other names being discussed in BJP circles include young and firebrand party MP Varun Gandhi who is also considered face of Hindutva. Varun has already met BJP national president Amit Shah several times recently.

BJP leaders are also talking about Union Minister Mahesh Sharma and Ramshankar Katheria as possible successor of present state president Luxmikant Vajpai. (IPA Service)