BJP picks OBC neta as UP presidents, Maratha leader as Maharashtra chief

NEW DELHI: BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday appointed OBC leader Swatantra Dev Singh and Maratha leader Chandrakant Patil as state presidents of the party units in Uttar Pradesh and poll-bound Maharashtra respectively.
Swatantra Dev Singh, UP transport minister, replaced Mahendra Nath Pandey, who was inducted into the Modi government while Maharashtra revenue minister Chandrakant Patil replaces Raosaheb Danve who, too, was inducted into the Union council of ministers.
MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha was named president of BJP's Mumbai city unit, replacing Ashish Shelar who was recently inducted into the Maharashtra government.
Swatantra Dev Singh, 54, has been BJP's OBC face in the state and is known for his organisational skills. A Kurmi, his appointment is seen as a move by the party to woo the community which is an influential backward caste in the state. It is also seen as the party's effort to consolidate its support among OBCs, who strongly backed BJP in the assembly and Lok Sabha polls.
Patil, who was considered number two in the state cabinet in Maharashtra, has been given the crucial assignment in the poll-bound state. Elections here are due in September-October.
Patil hails from Kolhapur in Maharashtra, once a stronghold of Congress and NCP. With Patil's appointment, all the presidents of the state units of BJP, Congress and NCP now hail from western Maharashtra region. Both leaders come from a strong RSS background.