In Yogi’s UP, CM’S secretariat gets a saffron hue
LUCKNOW: In its seven months in power, the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government has virtually draped Uttar Pradesh in a saffron hue. From the chief minister’s chair to a new fleet of state buses, it’s saffron all the way.
The latest is the CM’S secretariat (annexe). While the exteriors of the building are being painted saffron, the decorative designs on the white boundary wall will get a saffron finish too. When Mayawati came to power in 2007, she got the main Vidhan Bhawan (not the annexe) painted white. Until then, the historical building had sported its natural stone exteriors. Saffron started making its presence felt soon after Adityanath took over the reins on March 19 this year.
First, the furniture in his official residence and office got a saffron towel cover. Then came the hoardings displaying state government schemes and achievements in Yogi’s pet colour. On October 11, Adityanath, who is always dressed in saffron robes, flagged off a fleet of 50 saffronpainted buses called Sankalp Sewa Service. The transport department now plans to launch more such buses to cover about 40,000 villages in the next four years.
Incidentally, soon after Mamata Banerjee assumed power in West Bengal in May 2011, she launched a drive to paint government buildings, hospitals, bridges, park railings and pavements in blue and white.
Despite criticism from political opponents and civil society, she went ahead with her plans.
Back in UP, members of the Indian and New Zealand cricket squads were welcomed with saffron scarves last Friday.
A senior state government officer said, “Saffron is the favourite colour of the 45-year-old priest-cum-politician. Hence, that is the colour you see everywhere he goes.”
Says political observer AK Mishra: “Politics of colour is old in the state. It comes in a cycle with the change of power. After the BSP grabbed power in 1995, then chief minister Mayawati ordered all government events and projects should sport her party’s blue colour. Road dividers, buses, school bags, crossings and pandals were all painted blue...”