Keshav Prasad Maurya (born 7 May 1969) is an Indian politician, currently serving as the Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Maurya was associated with a right-wing Hindu organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, before entering active politics through BJP. He was also involved in cow protectionism in his early life. Before 2017 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections, he was made state president of the BJP, and after the victory of BJP, he was appointed as Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in the first Yogi Adityanath Government.[1][2][3] Maurya again contested the legislative assembly elections in 2022 from Sirathu Assembly constituency, losing to Pallavi Patel of Samajwadi Party. However, he was given a second term as Deputy CM in the second Yogi Adityanath government.
Keshav Prasad Maurya | |
|---|---|
_and_Shri_Satyapal_Singh_Saini,_MP,_Sambhal_(U.P)_meeting_the_Minister_of_State_for_Culture_(Independent_Charge),_Tourism_(Independent_Charge)_and_Civil_Aviation_(cropped).jpg) Maurya in 2017 | |
| 6th Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh | |
| Assumed office 19 March 2017 | |
| Governor | Ram Naik (till 2019) Anandiben Patel (since 2019) |
| Chief Minister | Yogi Adityanath |
| Preceded by | Narain Singh |
| Minister of Rural Development Government of Uttar Pradesh | |
| Assumed office 25 March 2022 | |
| Chief Minister | Yogi Adityanath |
| Preceded by | Rajendra Pratap Singh |
| Minister of Public Works Department Government of Uttar Pradesh | |
| In office 19 March 2017 – 25 March 2022 | |
| Chief Minister | Yogi Adityanath |
| Succeeded by | Jitin Prasada |
| Minister of Food Processing Industries Government of Uttar Pradesh | |
| Assumed office 19 March 2017 | |
| Chief Minister | Yogi Adityanath |
| Member of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council | |
| Assumed office 9 September 2017 | |
| Constituency | elected by Legislative Assembly members |
| President of Bharatiya Janata Party, Uttar Pradesh | |
| In office 8 April 2016 – 31 August 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Laxmikant Bajpai |
| Succeeded by | Mahendra Nath Pandey |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| In office 26 May 2014 – 21 September 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Kapil Muni Karwariya |
| Succeeded by | Nagendra Pratap Singh Patel |
| Constituency | Phulpur, Uttar Pradesh |
| Member of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 2012–2014 | |
| Preceded by | Wachaspati |
| Succeeded by | Wachaspati |
| Constituency | Sirathu |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 May 1969 Sirathu, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Political party |  Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Residence(s) | Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Education | B.A. |
| Occupation |
|
| Website | keshavprasadmaurya |
As of 17 December,, 2016 Source: [1] | |
Life edit
On 8 April 2016, on the first day of Chaitra, he was appointed the Bharatiya Janata Party chief of Uttar Pradesh.[4][5] A member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, he also participated in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.[4] Born in 1969, in Sirathu in Kausambhi district, adjoining Prayagraj, Maurya went on to study Hindi Literature at the Hindu Sahitya Sammelan in Prayagraj.[6] Besides being a politician, Maurya is also the owner of several institutions, which includes, a hospital, a petrol pump, an agro trading company and Kamdhenu Logistics. His asset is spread across Allahabad.[7]
Political career edit
Maurya has been associated with the RSS and the VHP-Bajrang Dal from an early age, holding the posts of Nagar Karyawah and VHP Pranth Sanghathan Mantri, among others. While being active in the gauraksha (cow-protection) movements. He also participated in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. In the BJP, Maurya has been the regional (Kashi) coordinator of the backward class cell and the BJP Kisan Morcha.[4][8] He has contested the 2002, 2007, and 2012 assembly elections, he lost the 2002 and 2007 elections but won in 2012, and was the sitting MLA from Sirathu assembly constituency before getting elected as MP from the Phulpur seat in 2014 with a thumping five lakh votes and over 52 percent votes.[6] In April 2016, he was made the state president of BJP in Uttar Pradesh.[9] Under his leadership, the BJP registered a historic victory in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election. After the election results were out, he was considered a strong contender for the post of Chief Minister.[10][11][12] On 18 March 2017, he was appointed the deputy chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.[13]
He became the first MLA of the BJP from Sirathu Tahseel in the year 2012. It was the first time any MLA of BJP was elected from Sirathu Tahseel. And after two and a half years he became the MP from Phoolpur from BJP. He got the ministries of the Public Works Department (PWD), food processing, entertainment tax, and public enterprises department.[14][15]
Uttar Pradesh Assembly Election 2022 edit
In the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election Keshav Prasad Maurya contested from Sirathu seat in his home district Kaushambi and lost to Samajwadi Party candidate Pallavi Patel.[16][17]
Career in BJP edit
_and_Shri_Satyapal_Singh_Saini,_MP,_Sambhal_(U.P)_meeting_the_Minister_of_State_for_Culture_(Independent_Charge),_Tourism_(Independent_Charge)_and_Civil_Aviation.jpg)
Maurya was appointed as state president of BJP for Uttar Pradesh, to consolidate the outreach of the party among Most Backward Castes.[18][19] Traditionally, the parties active in the state, like the Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party had the support of Yadavs and Jatavs, hence, with the appointment of Maurya as its state chief, BJP tried to woo non-Yadav OBCs in the state. Maurya worked to connect these social groups to the BJP, and with his efforts, the BJP was able to win 312 of the 403 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh, in the 2017 legislative assembly elections. His tenure as BJP's state chief was also helpful in paving the way for the entry of another significant OBC leader, Swami Prasad Maurya in BJP, who also joined the party in 2016. After its win in the 2017 Assembly election, Maurya was increasingly projected as the OBC face of the party.[20]
In his first tenure, Maurya remained critical of the politics of the Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party. In 2019, during a rally, Mayawati urged Muslims to vote for the BSP-SP alliance. This statement of hers was criticised by Maurya in a press briefing. Maurya alleged that Mayawati had been using Dalits as a 'vote bank', and she had started appeasing Muslims. He also said that Akhilesh Yadav is not loyal and Mayawati shouldn't believe him, pointing towards latter's tussle with Shivpal Singh Yadav.[21] In 2022, Akhilesh Yadav offered Keshav Maurya to cause a defection of hundred MLAs of BJP and join hands with Samajwadi Party. He ensured that the Samajwadi Party would provide support to Maurya in such a condition, and help him become the Chief Minister, replacing Yogi Adityanath. However, Maurya replied to Yadav that the latter should worry about their MLAs, as they can also defect towards BJP.[22][23][24] Political analysts recorded increased verbal attack by opposition leaders, specially Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Maurya, after his appointment as Deputy CM for his second term, right after losing his seat in 2022 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election. In a press conference, Yadav called Maurya a weak person. It was observed that during this phase of Maurya's tenure, Yadav and other opposition leaders singled him out and reduced their criticism of Yogi Adityanath.[25] Time and again, during his second term as deputy CM, Maurya also criticised Akhilesh Yadav publicly in press conferences for the alleged increase in criminal activities during Yadav's premiership of Uttar Pradesh. Maurya also alleged the Samajwadi Party of deception OBCs in the name of social justice.[26]
In the first quarter of 2023, Akhilesh Yadav, while speaking to the media, called Maurya a Shudra. After this remark, Maurya alleged that Yadav could get him killed, as the latter possessed hate for him.[27] Maurya was later projected as nationwide OBC face of BJP; he was deployed in various states during assembly elections to increase the mass outreach of the party. The state where he campaigned, included Gujarat in 2022, where BJP registered victory by a high margin.[28]
While campaigning in Ahmedabad, Maurya called Congress leaders "Chunavi Hindus" (election Hindus), he also said that for the BJP, Gujarat is more important than Uttar Pradesh, despite Uttar Pradesh having eighty lok sabha seats, and Gujarat having only 26 seats. At an event organised by the Other Language Cell of the Gujarat wing of BJP, Maurya said:[29]
“Those whose only aim is to insult Hindus in the country are chunavi Hindus. Look out for them…When elections are around, they go to the temple of Lord Somnath, Lord Ram, Hanuman. You should recall that when the Congress was in power in the country, it had told the Supreme Court that Lord Ram is just imaginary.”
... “Today, what forces the Congress to pay respects to Ram Lalla? The people of the country have known the character of Congress. And therefore, the country is becoming Congress-free.”[29]
After its victory in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, to strengthen its support base among the members of Koeri caste, Maurya was also made a participant in a convention celebrating the birth anniversary of Mauryan ruler Ashoka in Patna.[30] In 2019, while campaigning for BJP candidate Narendra Mehta in Mira Bhayander constituency in Thane, Maurya said: "Voting for BJP is like dropping Atom Bomb on Pakistan. He also takes a dig at other parties by saying that Goddess Lakshmi does not sit on bicycle or palm (election symbols of Samajwadi Party and Indian National Congress), rather she sits on Lotus (election symbol of BJP). He also compared the BJP's symbol with insignia of development.[31]
Maurya also played a significant role in bringing many leaders of the Kushwaha community, or those leaders, who were supported by the community in the state of Uttar Pradesh, into the fold of BJP, soon after his elevation as the chief of Bharatiya Janata Party for Uttar Pradesh. One such example is of Member of Legislative Assembly from Agra Rural constituency, Hemalata Diwakar Kushwaha, who, though herself being a member of Schedule Caste Dhobi community, was supported by members of Kushwaha community in Agra constituency due to her marriage with Tikam Singh Kushwaha. It was reported that Kushwahas were supporters of the Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh earlier, but BJP followed a strategy of elevation leaders from this caste to higher positions, after raising Maurya as its state unit chief, to placate the community.[32][33]
By 2023, Maurya was also made a part of campaigns of the Bharatiya Janata Party in other states, where he was made a participant in several caste rallies. In June 2023, Maurya addressed a Grand Assembly (Mahasangam) of Mali caste in Jaipur. This assembly was attended by several notable community members from the caste cluster of Maurya, Kushwaha, Mali, and Saini, which included Shobha Rani Kushwaha and former cabinet minister of Rajasthan, Prabhu Lal Saini. However, during his address, Maurya had to face sloganeering in favour of Rajasthan Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot, which disrupted his speech.[34] These campaigns of Maurya was a part of BJP's strategy to build an alliance of similar caste groups in Rajasthan, as it did in Uttar Pradesh.[35]
Ideology edit
Maurya was involved in cow protectionism in his early days while working as a member of various right-wing Hindu organisations. In an interview given to The Hindu, he supported the decision of Uttar Pradesh government of imposing National Security Act on those killing cows. He believed that, in the rule of BJP, the already existing cow protection legislation in the state were being implemented stringently. According to Maurya, the strict implementation of the provisions of NSA on those guilty of cow-slaughter will prevent others from doing so.[36]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Keshav Prasad Maurya: Another chaiwallah rising as BJP discusses next UP chief minister". India Today. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
- ^ "Keshav Prasad Maurya, the deputy CM rewarded for BJP win in UP". The Times of India. 18 March 2017. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
- ^ Thakur, Meenal (11 March 2017). "UP Election Results 2017: Did BJP's OBC card in Keshav Prasad Maurya hit the nail?". mint. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
- ^ a b c Rashid, Omar (8 April 2016). "Keshav Prasad Maurya: 'Gareebi, Sangh aur OBC'". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 January 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ^ "A long road for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh". live mint. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Biography :Keshav Prasad Maurya". OneIndia.com. Archived from the original on 10 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
- ^ "Keshav Prasad Maurya: Another chaiwallah rising as BJP discusses next UP chief minister". India Today. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- ^ Jaffrelot, C. (2023). Modi's India: Hindu Nationalism and the Rise of Ethnic Democracy. United States: Princeton University Press. page: 226
- ^ "From tea seller to state party chief, Keshav Maurya is BJP's face in UP". Hindustan Times. 9 April 2016. Archived from the original on 13 November 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ "Uttar Pradesh election results: Who will be the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister?". The Economic Times. 11 March 2017. Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ "UP election results 2017: The Chief Minister hopefuls". The Indian Express. 12 March 2017. Archived from the original on 13 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
- ^ "How they won". India Today. 18 March 2017. Archived from the original on 13 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
- ^ "Keshav Prasad Maurya, the deputy CM rewarded for BJP win in UP". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
- ^ "CM Yogi Adityanath keeps home, revenue: UP portfolio allocation highlights", Hindustan Times, 22 March 2017, archived from the original on 26 October 2019, retrieved 22 March 2017
- ^ "Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath allocates portfolios, keeps home", Live Mint, 23 March 2017, archived from the original on 26 March 2017, retrieved 26 March 2017
- ^ "Sirathu Assembly Election Results 2022: केशव मौर्य की सिराथू विधानसभा सीट के चुनाव परिणाम का पल-पल का अपडेट | Result Live".
- ^ "Kaushambi Result: डिप्टी सीएम केशव मौर्य चुनाव हारे, सिराथू में पल्लवी पटेल ने मारी बाजी, जानें कौशांबी की बाकी सीटों का नतीजा". आज तक (in Hindi). 10 March 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
- ^ Sarkar 2021, pp. 171.
- ^ Narayan 2021, pp. 84–85.
- ^ "The parallels between Keshav Prasad Maurya and Narendra Modi". live mint. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "Mayawati started hating Dalits, she is trying to appease Muslims: UP deputy CM". India Today. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "Akhilesh Yadav should save his MLAs': Keshav Prasad Maurya slams SP chief's 'CM offer'". India Today. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "After Akhilesh's 'offer' to Maurya, BJP hits back: SP MLAs in touch". Indian express. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "On CM post offer by Akhilesh, Yogi's deputy says 'their 100 MLAs ready to join". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "In Akhilesh's biting attacks on Keshav Maurya, a strategy of 'non-Yadav OBC outreach'". Indian express. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "Deception and not social justice the character of SP, says U.P. Deputy CM amid Akhilesh's OBC outreach". The Hindu. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "Akhilesh Yadav may get me killed, claims UP deputy CM Keshav Maurya". Times of India. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "OBCs crucial for mission 2024, Keshav Prasad Maurya BJP's key face". Times of India. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Gujarat more important than UP for BJP: UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya". Indian express. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ "BJP celebrates Ashoka's b'day". Times of India. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
- ^ "Voting For BJP Will Mean 'Dropping Nuclear Bomb On Pakistan': Keshav Prasad Maurya". Outlook. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
- ^ "Maurya effect: SP's Hemlata joins BJP in Agra". Times of India. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
- ^ "Setback for Samajwadi Party as its Agra woman candidate joins BJP". Indian express. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
- ^ "Slogans in support of Ashok Gehlot during UP Dy CM Keshav Maurya's speech in Jaipur". India Today. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
- ^ "BJP's Mali outreach before Rajasthan polls boomerangs as absent Gehlot has last laugh". Indian express. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
- ^ "By invoking NSA, we want to instil fear in those who kill the cow: U.P. Deputy CM". The Hindu. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
Bibliography edit
- Sarkar, J. (2021). Politics as Social Text in India: The Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh. India: Taylor & Francis. p. 171.
- Narayan, B. (2021). Republic of Hindutva: How the Sangh Is Reshaping Indian Democracy. India: Penguin Random House India Private Limited. pp. 84–85.