Will Farmers' Deaths Hit Chances In Polls? BJP Holds Key Meet

For the party, the choice is between alienating farmers or the Brahmins, who comprise 11 per cent of the state's population and are seen as upset with the BJP.

The BJP held a four-hour meeting in Delhi today to discuss the assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh due next year. The key question at the meet, sources said, was likely to be the possible fallout of last week's events in Lakhimpur Kheri, where four farmers were run over on October 3 -- allegedly by Ashish Mishra, the son of Union Minister Ajay Mishra.

Junior home minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, Ajay Mishra has not resigned despite the nationwide outrage and opposition demands.

Sources said there is no possibility of resignation for now. At a meeting with his boss, Union Home Minister Amit Shah last week, Mr Mishra said he or his son were not at the spot. Sources indicated that fresh overview could be taken on basis of the findings of the investigation if needed.

The party, though, still needs to think ahead and sources said the knotty question of his resignation could be discussed at the meeting, which was attended by party secretary BL Santosh, UP in-charge Radha Mohan Singh, election in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan, UP BJP President Swatantra Dev, state BJP's organizational secretary Sunil Bansal and party chief JP Nadda.