What Yogi Adityanath as UP CM says about Modi's promise of development
A week after it won a massive mandate in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP has chosen the controversial 44-year-old Yogi Adityanath as its chief minister.
The BJP's right to choose a person to head the prime minister's "Karambhoomi" cannot be challenged. Its choice, however, raises some disturbing and alarming questions.
Has the BJP mistaken the majority verdict for an endorsement of muscular majoritarianism? Do PM Modi and Amit Shah now believe that they should replace the minority vote bank politics with the vote bank politics of the majority?
The answer to both these questions, I'm afraid, lies in the affirmative. It is not only telling of the prime minister's promise of "Saba Saath Saba Vikas", it implies that the fig leaf of pretence of governing by "sarvamat" has now been dropped.
| There is nothing in his track record that suggests Adityanath has ever been associated with any 'development' initiative. |
The BJP can well argue that the massive mandate they have received is an endorsement of its majoritarian agenda and they have every right to go ahead and implement it - and to not do so would be a betrayal of their mandate. However, what most people find unpalatable is the attempt to claim that Adityanath has been chosen to take forward the PM's "development agenda".
The controversial mahant is a five-time MP and there is nothing in his track record to suggest that he has ever been associated with a development initiative.
Adityanath's identity is that of an unapologetic proponent of muscular majoritarianism. He has multiple criminal cases pending against him. He cannot be accused of having even a fleeting acquaintance with any development work. He also has no administrative experience worth the name.
In choosing Adityanath, the PM has ignored the experienced and mild mannered Rajnath Singh, and even Manoj Sinha.
Despite their public protestations in choosing Adityanath, and Keshav Prasad Maurya as his deputy, the BJP leadership has perhaps indicated the hardline route it intends take in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Also read: Hai Ram! Yogi Adityanath is the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh
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