Who is Yogi Adityanath?

Yogi Adityanath is the new Chief Minister of India’s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, which contains 200 million people and sends more than 80 members to India’s parliament. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) recently won an overwhelming victory in Uttar Pradesh and several other states, due to dissatisfaction with the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP).

While his opponents frequently call Yogi Adityanath controversial, Yogi has stated he wants development in all its forms—economic, social and physical—to take place in the state.

Yogi Adityanath – Early life

Born Ajay Singh Bisht in Garhwal, Uttar Pradesh on June 5, 1972, he was educated at Kanya Inter College and graduated from Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University. He subsequently earned a master’s degree in Sociology from Bundelkhand University.

While studying for his masters’ degree he became an activist with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a student wing of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). In 1998, he became a full-time member of RSS and changed his name to Mahant Avaidyanath after becoming head priest at Gorakhnath Temple, Gorakhpur.

Yogi Adityanath – Personal life

Yogi Adityanath was born Ajay Singh Bisht on June 5, 1972, in Garhwal in Uttarakhand. He later changed his name to Ajay Singh. According to an interview with Zee News, Yogi Adityanath’s father died when he was three years old and he was raised by his mother and grandparents. Born into a Hindu family, he considers himself both Shaivite and Vaishnavite.

He did his Bachelor’s degree in Science from HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar (Garhwal), Uttarakhand, followed by a Master’s degree in Physics from Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University.

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