BJP president J P Nadda arrived in Lucknow on Thursday to hold discussions with party office-bearers in the state, where the assembly polls will be held next year. Nadda, who was scheduled to arrive at 1.30 pm, reached late in the evening due to some engagements in New Delhi, party sources said.

He was received at Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Deputy CMs Dinesh Sharma and Keshav Prasad Maurya. ''Naddaji is visiting Lucknow for the first time since he was elevated to the party's top position on January 20 last year,” UP minister Sidharth Nath Singh said, adding that Nadda is scheduled to meet party workers and ministers during his two-day visit. Nadda's visit assumes significance amid speculation about possible expansion of the state cabinet in near future.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath, deputy chief ministers, Keshav Prasad Maurya and Dinesh Sharma, along with over a dozen ministers welcomed the party president at the airport.

Hundreds of party workers lined up along the route to accord a welcome to their party president.

The BJP president drove straight to the party headquarters where he will interact with ministers and discuss the road map for the upcoming panchayat and then the 2022 assembly elections.

On January 22, Nadda will address a conference of social medial volunteers and intellectuals. Nadda's visit comes close on the heels of PM Narendra Modi's trusted bureaucrat Arvind Sharma joining the BJP and getting nominated to the upper house of the state legislature. Rumors are rife that he may be inducted in the state cabinet.

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