324 MLAs in kitty but CM face still missing: BJP buys more time to select Uttar Pradesh chief minister as Amit Shah leaves onus on state chief Keshav Prasad Maurya

As several names are being speculated in media for the chief ministerial candidate in Uttar Pradesh, BJP president Amit Shah left everyone in state of confusion, saying that the UP BJP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya will pick the candidate for the top job in the state.

Maurya was among the frontrunners, but Shah statement clearly stated that he is not going to be the next chief minister.

Shah was asked by reporters following the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting about the chief ministerial nominee for the state.

"I have left the responsibility to Keshav (to choose the CM)," he said while leaving.

Maurya, who is himself seen as one of the probables, then told reporters that how can he choose himself, when asked if he is a contender for the post.

On the other hand, the Uttarakhand BJP legislature party will also hold a meeting at a hotel in Dehradun in the presence of the party's central observers to discuss who should be the new chief minister of the state.

PM Modi and Amit Shah to attend swearing-in ceremony of new Uttarakhand CM and ministers in Dehradun on 18 March pic.twitter.com/rYcoPbyvWR

— ANI (@ANI_news) March 16, 2017

The BJP scored a massive victory in the recently held Assembly elections winning 57 of the 70 seats.

The legislature party meeting will be held at 3 PM in the presence of the central observers and party incharge of Uttarakhand affairs Shyam Jaju, Pradesh BJP president Ajay Bhatt said.

"All the newly elected party MLAs have been asked to be in Dehradun tomorrow for the meeting and the day after when the new chief minister is to be sworn in," Bhatt said.

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