A week after their sensational electoral victory in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP picked Hindutva mascot Yogi Adityanath as the state's chief minister on Saturday. The decision was marked by reckless rumours before it was officially announced.
The party also chose two deputy CMs, a first in the UP politics. For a state which is severely dominated by caste politics - this was seen as an attempt to balance the complex caste equations and social diversity of the state. Analysts say Yogi is many things rolled in one: he is a 'holy man', therefore caste doesn't stick to him and he is acceptable to all. As a man without a family he is also seen as above personal corruption.
Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu announced the decisions after a long meeting with local BJP legislators in Lucknow. 'This is a watershed moment in the history of BJP,' he told reporters.
Adityanath was sworn in on Sunday in a ceremony at Kanshiram Smriti Upvan in the state capital at 2.15pm where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah were present. News channels flashed pictures of party workers garlanding and feeding sweets to the newly elected CM, who was draped in his iconic saffron-coloured robe.
State BJP chief, Keshav Prasad Maurya, who was himself in contention for the top job, was elected as the deputy chief minister alongside senior BJP leader and Lucknow Mayor Dinesh Sharma.
A British media reported that according to party insiders, that the choice of the CM that shocked many was an obvious one in the context of the party's long-term plans - essentially its blueprint for the 2019 elections.
Adityanath has promised that he will follow the Prime Minister's 'sab ka saath, sab ka vikas' (equality and development for all) mantra and ensure all-round development of the country's most populous state.
In his first brief media interaction, he said, “I am confident that the state will march on the path of development.”
An avid fan of the Prime Minister, Yogi Adityanath in a Modi-style jibe told the Lok Sabha (Lower House) "I am a year younger than Rahul Gandhi, and a year older than Akhilesh Yadav. I came between their jodi (alliance). That is why they failed in UP," said the saffron-robed Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. He promised to make UP a "dream state" with an economy favourable for its youth.
"Uttar Pradesh will be the dream state of the honourable Prime Minister. It will be an ideal state. It will be free of corruption, riots, lawlessness, and goondaraj. In UP, we will create such a model of development that the youth won't have to flee." As he resigns from the House to take charge of India's largest state, one thing is undoubted- Yogi has huge shoes to fill. An image to maintain, and an existing image to shed. When Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party won the UP Assembly elections, names of several prominent BJP leaders did the rounds as the media speculated on who will hold the reins to the state. What nobody anticipated, was the rise of Yogi, a Hindu hardliner.
Liberal-leftists, the country's elite, and seculars cried foul at BJP's move. Their arguments finding traction from the leader's past. After all, isn't Yogi the total opposite of what a Chief Minister is expected to be? Somebody whose entire credibility is based on his anti-Muslim rhetoric, steady fight for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, and his right-wing outfit, Hindu Yuva Vahini. Who the country saw as an aggressive Hindutva promoter, BJP saw as an opportunity. A five-term Lok Sabha MP, a talented speaker, and a brilliant orator. Not only is his religious comprehension strong, his grip on local politics is vicious. Yogi Adityanath has devotees from all across India and Nepal coming down to meet him every day.
While India settles with the image of a sadhu in the helm of state politics, Yogi and his new administration has already sprung into action. The new CM, who was sworn in on Sunday, promises the state a much needed make-over.
No 'lal-batti' in Yogi-land
As per news reports, the new UP Chief Minister has issued orders that no minister in the state government will be allowed to use the red beacon on their vehicles. Reiterating his government's commitment to fight corruption, Adityanath has also ordered his cabinet ministers to provide details of their income- moveable and immoveable assets within 15 days.
"As uprooting corruption is the main agenda of our party, the CM is his first introductory meeting with his ministers, directed them to give details of their income, moveable and immoveable properties wit 15 days to the (party) organisation as well as the secretary (to CM)," informed Cabinet Minister Srikant Sharma. Earlier during the meeting, he also issued clear instructions to ensure that public order across the state is maintained and that it should not be disturbed in the name of celebrations. "Utsav ke naam par upadrav nahi hona chahiye (Public order should not be disturbed in the name of celebrations)" he said.
A major crackdown on slaughterhouses and butcher shops has already been launched across UP, a move that came hours after he was sworn in. The police drive began on Sunday night, when licenses of meat shops in Muslim localities of Rasoopur, Buxipur, Tiwaripur, and Jafra Bazar were checked. Superintendent of Police Hemraj Meena said, "Police have only checked licences. Reports will be sent to the state government to decide future action."
While buffalo meat is not banned in UP, curbs on beef and slaughtering of cattle is on the rise given cows' sacred status in Hinduism.
Manohar Parriker quits as Defence Minister to become Goa CM
Even though the BJP failed miserably to secure a simple majority in the February Assembly polls in Goa, it managed to win the support of two regional parties, along with two other Independents. Outsmarting the Congress which emerged as the single largest party with 17 seats in the 40-member house, the national party brought former Union Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar back where he belonged.
The decision was awaited as he led the party campaign from the front, sending across subtle hints that if it wins, the new Goa government would be headed by Parrikar. The Minister was first elected to the Goa Assembly in 1994, and served as the Leader of the Opposition from June to November 1999. Parrikar's first stint as the CM of the state was from October 24, 2000 to February 27, 2002. His second term saw him in power till 2005.
In 2012, Parrikar successfully led the BJP to power, and became CM for the third time, which lasted until November 2014 when he was made the Defence Minister. In his entire career, despite facing criticism for rushing back home every weekend, not once has he hid the fact that his heart lies in the coastal state. He enjoys open acceptance from Modi's party and has always stayed at the forefront of the party activities.
Manipur gets its first BJP CM
The north-eastern state of Manipur welcomed its first BJP-led government after N Biren Singh won the floor test in the Assembly, by voice vote. The test was taken 11 days after assembly elections gave a fractured verdict, and five days later, Singh was sworn in.
BJP won 21 seats, while the Congress won 28, in the 60-member house. However, the former managed to join hands with the Naga People's Front, and the National People's Party, which have four legislators each, and an Independent, and a member each from the LJP and Trinamool Congress. Speaker Y Khemchand was also elected by voice vote, defeating Congress' Govindas Konthujan.
The Manipur CM is allowed to have 12 ministers, and he already has nine. Sources from the BJP said the portfolios would be allocated to the ministers soon.
Trivendra Singh Rawat mirrors BJP's fight against corruption, in Uttarakhand
Long-time Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activist Trivendra Singh Rawat took oath as the next Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, on Saturday. A former associate of Modi, he was Agriculture Minister in the previous BJP government in the state. Rawat was elected from Doiwala, where he defeated Congress' Hira Singh Bisht with a margin of over 24,000 votes.
Meanwhile, the only state to be claimed by the Congress, Punjab saw Captain Amarinder Singh take oath as the new Chief Minister, launching an attack on the region's drug issue
