Lucknow, Dec 19: Even as the BJP state leadership's efforts to pacify dissident legislators in Uttar Pradesh appeared to show signs of some success, a fresh crisis seems to be knocking at its door following Chief Minister Mayawati's decision to rename Amethi ignoring protests from a section of the BJP. Soon after Mayawati's announcement Wednesday to rename Amethi, a stronghold of the Gandhi family, as Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Nagar after according it a district status, dissenting voices emerged from Amethi with senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Sanjai Singh denouncing it.
Singh, a former MP from the constituency, whose wife Amita Singh is an MLA from Amethi assembly constituency and also a Minister in the Mayawati government, claimed that he had been assured by the BJP leadership that the name of Amethi would not be changed.


UP BJP president Vinay Katiyar had also reportedly said that Amethi's name would not be changed. A section of partymen registered strong protest with the state leadership on the issue while former state president Kalraj Mishra criticised the decision.
Mayawati sought to silence the opponents by claiming that she had apprised BJP legislature party leader Lalji Tandon of her decision.

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A section of BJP feels that rechristening Amethi as Shahuji Maharaj Nagar could undermine the influence wielded by the royal family of Amethi, specifically of Sanjai Singh.

Singh wanted Amethi to be renamed after Rajarshi Rananjai Singh, his father who was the ruler of Amethi once. Bureau Report