New Delhi: BJP has released the first list of candidates to next month’s Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will contest from Gorakhpur (Urban) seat.

BJP central election committee has released the first list of 107 candidates, of which the party won 83 in the previous election. 63 sitting MLAs seats have been retained and 20 new faces given tickets. Candidates for the other 296 seats in UP's 403-member Assembly will be announced later.

Deputy Chief Minister  Keshav Prasad Maurya, will contest the Sirathu seat in the Prayagraj district.

"The decision is to field Yogiji from Gorakhpur has been taken by the party central leadership after much deliberation”, said Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan,  dismissing speculation that Yogi had been quietly adamant about contesting from Gorakhpur.

Soon after the BJP announced Yogi Adityanath would contest from Gorakhpur, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav took a swipe at him, saying: "I like that the BJP has already sent him (the Chief Minister) to Gorakhpur. Yogi should stay there... there is no need for him to come from there."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who chaired a meeting of the BJP's Central Election Committee has taken a final call to field Mr. Yogi from Gorakhpur constituency. Earlier it was stated that Yogi will contest either Ayodhya or Madhura

Yogi never stood for Assembly election before, he was the MP of Gorakhpur for five terms. Now he is a member of the Legislative Council.

The BJP has received a big jolt month before the election its powerful OBC leaders have deserted the party and joined SP. Also seven sitting MLAs have left the party.