Can Yogi come out of the communal shadow and be UPs development face?

Yogi's appointment as CM sends a clear message out to the Hindus of UP that the BJP is keen on pushing its Hindutva agenda coupled with development.

With firebrand leader Yogi Adityanath, who is known for making communal remarks, being made Uttar Pradesh chief minister, the opposition parties are hoping that he would focus on development and not making provocative comments.

The Congress and its allies such as the JD-U were quick to accuse the BJP of deviating from their development agenda and focusing on polarisation ahead of 2019 polls. Some, in fact, hinted that Yogi's acension to the top post could have just been a move aimed at dividing the state on communal lines ahead of Lok Sabha polls.

Congress leader P C Chacko told ANI that 'we all hope that he will show maturity and not make procative statements aimed at certain communities'. Chacko, however, said that BJP 'development pitch before every election might actually be a 'ploy'.

The JD-U also seemed apprehensive about Adityanath's choice as CM for politically significant state. Party leader Ali Anwar told ANI that there is a difference between what PM Modi says and does.

Yogi's appointment as CM sends a clear message out to the Hindus of UP that the BJP is keen on pushing its Hindutva agenda coupled with development.

The saffron party faced severe criticism for selecting a man known for his anti-minority politics for the top post.

In order to fit Adityanath into Prime Minister Narendra Modi's narrative of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas, the BJP is planning to give the new Uttar Pradesh CM an image makeover.

According to a report by Reuters, Adityanath would undergo a complete image makeover to repackage him as a moderate reformer.

The Hindutva poster boy, who is the current mahant (head priest) of the Gorakhnath Mutt and a five-time BJP Member of Parliament from the Gorakhpur constituency, was sworn-in as the CM of Uttar Pradesh in Lucknow on Sunday.

OneIndia News