Do your homework: BJP MLAs told

Khanna has asked the MLAs to update themselves on the state’s demography and other facts with the the book, Sankhyaki (Statistics), published by the UP government.

BJP has 38 MLAs in the Assembly.

Khanna was elected party’s leader for UP Assembly. A seven-time MLA from Shahjahanpur, Khanna has replaced Hukum Singh who has won the Lok Sabha elections from Kairana.

Party’s deputy leader in the House Satish Mahana, who had served as officiating leader in Assembly during the recent budget session and was the leading contender for the post of full-time leader, skipped Thursday’s meeting called by party state president Laxmikant Bajpai.

When asked about his first message for party MLAs, Khanna said, “I have asked the MLAs to be sincere to the people and sincere to the party. They should raise the issues of public effectively.”

Sources said Mahana boycotted the meeting as there would be a change of party’s deputy leader also. Mahana, however, claimed he could not attend the meeting as he had other commitments. He said Suresh Khanna is a very senior member of the Assembly and he has much regard for him.  “I am sure all the MLAs will do better in his leadership.” Khanna, too, denied Mahana’s report of boycott.

Earlier, Khanna’s election as party leader in the Assembly was held in presence of senior leader Jai Prakash Chaturvedi who was appointed observer for the election process.

The MLA from Arya Nagar in Kanpur, Salil Vishnoi, proposed Khanna’s name for the post and, in the absence of any other candidate, Chaturvedi declared Khanna elected.

All party MLAs under the leadership of party state president Laxmikant Bajpai and Khanna will meet Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday to lodge their protest against alleged harassment of BJP workers at Kanth in Moradabad.