After the BJP’s defeat in UP in the Lok Sabha elections, an atmosphere of huge dissatisfaction was emerging in the state BJP. Many times it seemed that both Deputy CMs Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak had openly launched a front against CM Yogi. Situations were seen many times where Yogi could become a victim of the BJP’s internal politics. But like a juggler, CM Yogi once again emerges stronger in a way that many people would not have even imagined. At the recent two-day meeting of the All India RSS Executive Board held in Mathura, the guest who attracted the most attention was Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Here he not only held a closed-door conversation with senior Sangh leaders but also made some proposals that could have an impact on the entire India and Hindu society in the future. Not only this, if a news item from Indian Express is to be believed, RSS has also called it the future.
1-Plan to include some backward communities and other Hindu communities in Kumbh
Whenever an RSS meeting is held in any state, the BJP Chief Minister usually attends it. This is not unusual. But the way Yogi Adityanath held long conversations with Sangh leaders in Mathura had never happened before. Along with this, the issues raised by Yogi Adityanath also became special. According to a report in the Indian Express, the RSS said that Adityanath asked them to help ensure the participation of prominent OBC communities in Karnataka, such as the Lingayats and some tribal communities that have not yet participated in the Kumbh. The UP CM said it is important to reach out to these communities as they have stayed away from such festivals or have never been invited. It is noteworthy that a large-scale Kumbh Mela will be organized in Prayagraj next year. Which includes a large sector of Hindus.
Adityanath spoke in detail about the issue during a 45-minute closed-door meeting with top RSS leaders. According to the UP CM, a senior RSS official said, this is an issue on which the RSS is also working. The Lingayats of Karnataka, Karvi of Maharashtra and some sects of Kerala have stayed away from Kumbh. No effort was made to bring them together beforehand. We are working on it. The Swaminarayan sect also stayed away from the first Kumbh, they were invited to the last Kumbh and also participated.
2-Chemistry between Yogi and RSS
Yogi Adityanath is one of the most popular leaders of the BJP. There can be no doubt about this now. The way he is called to campaign across the country is proof of his popularity. Along with this, his speeches and his work style are followed throughout the country. Now the Sangh has also approved his working style. But it is amazing how he is actively involved in engaging the Lingayat community and tribal communities in Kumbh and his cause is getting support from the Sangh. This is probably his first attempt to reach out to communities outside his state – a big step towards becoming a pan-Indian leader.
The way Adityanath and the RSS leaders held a closed-door meeting for 45 minutes at the Mathura meeting also shows that Yogi has now become the most loved leader of the Sangh. His growing relations with the Sangh can also be seen in the way he. CM How is Yogi implementing the suggestions given to the Sangh? Yogi suggested that the Sangh use the Kumbh platform to promote the five pledges announced as part of the centenary celebrations, covering issues ranging from social harmony to environmental protection.
3-What is the meaning of telling the future to Yogi?
The Indian Express writes that a senior RSS leader called him the future and said Yogi ji is not from the Sangh but has been associated with the Ram Mandir movement. Whoever shares our ideology is ours. The entire country accepts it as a symbol of Hindutva and sees in it the future of the ideology. Who are we to question society’s decision? RSS sources said if the Sangh represents the organizational strength, the CM complements it with his charismatic political leadership.
The way the Sangh has given importance to Yogi’s slogan ‘Bantenge to Katenge’, is also established as a reason to predict the future for him. Speaking at the Mathura meeting, RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale gave the seal of approval to the Sangh by uttering this Yogi slogan.
4-Yogi was once away from Sangh
The institutional structure of RSS has not played any role in Adityanath’s political journey. Apart from being associated with ABVP for some time during his college days, he has definitely been associated with the ideological tradition of the Hindu Mahasabha. The RSS and the Hindu Mahasabha have traditionally had divergent views, while both have belonged to the Hindutva ideology.
However, his aggressiveness on Hindutva issues and strict law enforcement image, such as encounter politics and use of bulldozers as weapons to maintain law and order, etc., endeared him to the RSS.
However, until a few days ago there was a kind of mysterious suspicion between the two. A few days ago, at an RSS meeting held in Gorakhpur, there was a lot of discussion whether the CM and RSS leaders met or not. Some newspapers even reported the place and time of their meeting. But both sides said Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat and UP CM Yogi Adityanath did not meet.
This can be better understood with an example. Two years ago, Sangh leader Dattatreya Hosabale was on a short stay in Lucknow. But before coming to Lucknow, he met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda and others. It is said that Yogi Adityanath did not take any initiative on his part to meet Dattatreya Hosabale. He toured from Lucknow to Mirzapur. From Mirzapur to Gorakhpur and they got to work according to their scheduled schedule. According to media reports, Dattatreya Hosabale, seeing the Chief Minister’s hustle and bustle, stayed for another day. Still, when there was no sign of meeting from Yogi’s side, he returned. But now the situation has changed.
