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Gupta to be replaced
by Rajnath Singh: PTI

Making the announcement at a press conference in Lucknow, UP BJP President Kalraj Mishra said the high command decided on the change after Gupta expressed his desire to step down due to health reasons.

He said the BJP legislature party would meet on Wednesday to formally elect Singh as its new leader.

Singh is likely to be sworn in on October 28, Mishra added.

The decision about the change of leadership was taken at a meeting Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had with Home Minister L K Advani earlier in the day in New Delhi, Mishra said.

Mishra, who attended that meeting, made the announcement on his return from Delhi.

He said the party high command considered the request of the chief minister to step down.

In fact, Gupta has been asking the party's central leadership to relieve him of the responsibilities because he was unable to put up with the "pressure" owing to his poor health, Mishra said.

"Though we asked him (Gupta) to continue, he repeatedly asked to be relieved and the high command took a final decision to replace him with Singh," he said.

The choice of Singh is "unanimous" and he will be formally elected leader at the BJP legislature group meeting on Wednesday, the UP BJP chief said.

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