Not just Congress, even some BJP leaders secretly ‘rejoiced’ over Yogi defeat in Gorakhpur

File photo of Yogi Adityanath | @myogiadityanath

Some BJP MPs believe the defeat was the result of arrogance & overconfidence shown by a section of party leaders and are glad the UP CM’s aura has been dented.

New Delhi: It’s not just the opposition Congress, even some BJP MPs rejoiced at the party’s bypoll defeat in Gorakhpur — UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s home turf — saying this was a much-needed lesson for a few “arrogant” leaders, party sources have revealed.

Some rivals were also glad that the aura of Adityanath, who has emerged as one of the main campaigners for the party nationally, had been dented, the sources said.

According to party sources, those who seemed to be “happy” with the bypoll verdict included some parliamentarians from UP, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Some of these leaders, the sources said, are seniors who have been overtaken by Adityanath’s phenomenal rise in the party.

They were of the opinion that the bypoll defeat was the result of the “arrogance and overconfidence” displayed by a section of UP leaders, who were unable to see the ground reality.

“The result was celebrated by some MPs form Uttar Pradesh and a few other states,” a senior BJP leader said.

“The news was disturbing as the CM lost his seat that had been in the party fold for years. However, the loss did not disturb those from the state. Many in fact seemed relieved,” the leader added.

Some MPs could be heard joking about a piece published in a Hindi daily that made out a case on why everyone is happy with the UP bypolls defeat.

“Modi is happy as Yogi lost. Yogi is happy that a Brahmin has lost in a Kshatriya seat. Brahmins are happy that Yogi has lost; Dalits are happy as a Nishad has won and Mayawati stands a chance to be in the Rajya Sabha,” read the article published in a Hindi daily.

There are also a few who believe that Adityanath should have offered to resign. “It is the least he could do. You have lost a traditional seat which had elected you for years, how could you stay in power and not win the seat?” asked a party member.

“For him, respect could have been maintained among people if he had offered to resign taking moral responsibility for the defeat,” the member said.

Some BJP workers said the loss of Gorakhpur may also affect Adityanath’s campaigning in poll-bound Karnataka. The party sources said that there’s a fear Adityanath’s rallies in Karnataka may not draw the same kind of crowds now.