What Did the BJP Neglect in Making Yogi Adityanath Chief Minister of UP?
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have made a significant political oversight by appointing Yogi Adityanath as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh (UP). This oversight stems from a strategic miscalculation in understanding the ideological and personal backgrounds of such a crucial political appointment.
Background and Neglected Facts
Yogi Adityanath, a prominent figure in UP politics, holds a unique background as a prominent monk from the Goraknath math, based in eastern UP. This background is rarely associated with the BJP and its RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) roots, and Adityanath does not align with the BJP's ideological framework. This failed to be recognized by the BJP and Modi during their decision-making process, a critical oversight that could have significant implications for the stability and future direction of the UP government.
Power vs. Ideology in Political Appointments
The appointment of Yogi Adityanath can be characterized as a form of 'horse trading' where power is offered instead of a developmental agenda. Modi and the BJP portrayed the initiative as a means to secure additional MLAs, roughly estimated to be up to 100 seats. This short-sighted strategy has set the stage for a leadership that may lack the ideological coherence and vision that the BJP has long promoted.
The Overambitious and Greedy Factor
Feeling empowered by their proximity to power, horsetraded leaders like Yogi Adityanath are typically overambitious and greedy. Their primary goal often shifts from serving the electorate to accruing personal power and influence. This behavior is evident in Yogi Adityanath, who is currently positioned to challenge Narendra Modi for the Prime Ministerial role in the future.
The Broader Impact: The 50 Horsetraded Leaders and Beyond
In the broader context, more than 50 BJP leaders who were strategically traded from other political parties, including the Indian National Congress (INC), Trinamool Congress (TMC), Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)), and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and regional parties, are expected to back Yogi Adityanath. This maneuver underscores the BJP's reliance on transactional politics, rather than building a strong, ideological foundation for its rule.
Conclusion and Implications
The confluence of factors that led to the appointment of Yogi Adityanath as the Chief Minister of UP highlights the potential pitfalls of power-driven politics over ideologically-driven governance. The BJP's neglect of ideological alignment and the risks associated with transactional leadership could throw the stability of the state and the direction of the BJP in national politics into question.