Chai-wala Keshav Prasad Maurya is the new UP BJP president

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party has given an important assignment to another former 'Chaiwala' Keshav Prasad Maurya appointing as the new president of its Uttar Pradesh unit on Friday.

Set to replace Laxmi Kant Bajpayee at the crucial juncture ahead of Uttar Pradesh assembly polls in 2017 , Maurya thanked his party profusely to have reposed faith in him to lead the BJP at this point of time. He hoped to live up to the expectations of the party and the people of the state.

Pledging to emulate the feat of Narendra Modi in the last Lok Sabha election, Maurya enthused confidence that the coming Uttar Pradesh assembly polls will have a repeat of what saffron party achieved in the general elections. '' We will organise ourselves to form the government in Uttar Pradesh on the plank of development and nationalism,'' he told 'newztrack' soon after the BJP national general secretary Arun Singh made announcement of his appointment at party’s Ashok Road headquarters in the national capital.

It was the admission of Arun Singh that beside being a farmer, Keshav Prasad Maurya also used to sell tea to arrange money for his studies. This makes another 'tea seller' after Narendra Modi to assume significant post in the BJP.

Coming from a modest backward farmer family, the 47-year-old leader, however, played down the caste factor stating like his party ,he too did not believe in the caste system and that is what makes BJP a party with a nationalist outlook. Maurya, considered very close to Late Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Askhok Singhal, was the first time Lok Sabha member from Phoolpur in Allahabad. Earlier, he was member of state assembly from Sirathu constituency.

Meanwhile, the outgoing UP BJP President Laxmi Kant Bajpayee has congratulated him and extended all possible support.