The selection of Yogi Adityanath as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh surprised even ardent fan of BJP. Everyone admits that Yogi commands largest number of pro – Right followers in UP, but his personality was not considered suitable for being at the helm. UP is crucial for Modi, if he wants to retain power in 2019 and hence the selection of Chief Minister had become a matter of great interest. It can be said that Modi as a politician has gone for another master stroke which may help him in the entire Northern Belt of India in 2019 Lok Sabha election.
BJP has decided to respect the sentiment of the people rather than following the dictums of media personalities and armchair political analysts.
Caste of Yogi Adityanath
If you ask any BJP supporters about the caste of Yogi, you are like to get a plain answer that he is the first CASTELESS Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. But, Indian politics in general and UP politics in particular is not so simple. Even if there is overall Hindu consolidation, the caste factor needs to be taken care of.
There is also no denying that Thakur in UP has wholeheartedly supported BJP in 2017 Assembly Election. The reason was varied, but the main point was Daya Shankar Singh idiotic statement about Mayawati and heinous crime by BSP supporters against his family. It is because of this fact that many were expecting BJP to name a Thakur as the CM candidate. And, hence, Rajnath Singh was projected to be there. But, Modi – Shah was having different mind. There was also an issue of powerful support for the party by non – Yadav OBC and hence there was demand to give the coveted chair to a person belonging to this group, like Keshav Prasad Maurya.
In the end, it is Yogi Adityanath. Is he casteless? No. Yogi may never say anything about his caste, but he is also colored in a caste goggle.
By caste Yogi Adityanath is a Thakur (Rajput). He is basically from Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. His real name is Ajay Singh.
So, BJP despite going for a Yogi has kept an eye on the caste factor also and elevated a Thakur as the CM.
It should also be noted that there are many reports where Yogi Adityanath is accused of giving free hand to Thakur in Gorakhpur. Majority of hardline members of his Hindu Yuva Vahini are also Thakurs.
It will be interesting to see whether Yogi Adityanath remained casteless in the public forum or will he decide to identify himself with a caste like Modi who in his later years started to give his identification as an OBC leader.
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