Who is Yogi Adityanath?

With 200 million residents and more than 80 MPs of the Indian parliament, Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in the country. Yogi Adityanath is the new chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. The ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) was not well-liked in Uttar Pradesh and numerous other states, which led to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) winning massive victories recently.

Yogi Adityanath’s critics often characterize him as controversial, although Yogi has made it clear that he supports state growth in all of its manifestations, including social, economic, and physical.

Yogi Adityanath – Early life

On June 5, 1972, Ajay Singh Bisht was born in Garhwal, Uttar Pradesh. He attended Kanya Inter College and Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University before graduating. Later on, Bundelkhand University awarded him a master’s degree in sociology.

He started working as an activist for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) student branch, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), while pursuing his master’s degree. After taking a position as head priest at Gorakhnath Temple in Gorakhpur, he changed his name to Mahant Avaidyanath and joined the RSS full-time in 1998.

Yogi Adityanath – Personal life

On June 5, 1972, Yogi Adityanath was born in Garhwal, Uttarakhand, as Ajay Singh Bisht. Later on, he adopted the name Ajay Singh. Yogi Adityanath was raised by his mother and grandmother after his father passed away when he was three years old, according to an interview with Zee News. He was raised in a Hindu household and identifies as both Shaivite and Vaishnavite.

He completed his undergraduate studies in science at HNB Garhwal University in Srinagar (Garhwal), Uttarakhand, and then went on to Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University to earn his master’s degree in physics.

Impact on Indian politics

Mr. Modi’s move has sparked a controversy, especially with opposition parties. Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader M Karunanidhi have denounced it stating that BJP made a mockery of democracy. The leaders from these opposition parties argue that in order to become a member of parliament one should be elected by people in polls.

It seems like Mr. Modi has been successful in proving his strength and rallying up supporters behind him despite facing criticism on such decisions. As controversial as it may seem to make someone who is appointed as a chief minister bypassing any election, Mr Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters seem very happy about it underlining their trust on Mr Modi’s leadership skills and policies.

Key events in his political career

His stint as a Member of Parliament, BJP State President and then his four-year tenure as a Member of Legislative Assembly in Uttar Pradesh. In 2007, he publicly participated in rallies protesting against violence against Hindus and was arrested twice on charges related to rioting.

He became a member of parliament for Gorakhpur constituency in Uttar Pradesh in 2014 after winning by nearly 300,000 votes. He became state president of BJP’s state unit in 2011. He won the election from Gorakhpur once again in 2012 by a margin even larger than before – almost 400,000 votes. Later that year he began delivering speeches on Ram Temple at public events across Uttar Pradesh.

Important policies he plans to implement if elected as CM of Uttar Pradesh

He has promised to install statues of Lord Ram in every district, and if voted into power will shut down all slaughterhouses and ban mechanized abattoirs. He also plans to shift cows to Mahawari forests as a conservation method. Will create a cell in each police station that will look after cases related to cow slaughter and mob lynching.

All educational institutions will have moral science classes. Will start schemes for those who wish to take care of cows. According to his blueprint, there will be no compromise on the law & order situation, which has deteriorated in UP under Akhilesh government.

Who is Yogi Adityanath? A Biography of the Controversial Hindu Nationalist Leader