Head of Gorakhnath temple, MP and a rabble-rouser
GORAKHPUR: Chief minister-designate Yogi Adityanath, a firebrand BJP leader and five-time MP from Gorakhpur, is seen as one of the most polarising political figures in India.
Political innings: It was in the year 1998 when Adityanath entered the political arena after leaving his ancestral home at Pancher village in Pauri Garhwal, where he was born on June 5, 1972. He was born Ajay Mohan Bisht but later changed his name after his indoctrination into the Nath sect.
The year saw former BJP MP Mahant Avidyanath, a key leader of 90s Ram temple movement, passing his baton to Adityanath, who emerged as a controversial Hindu leader known for hate speeches. A B.Sc graduate (1993) from Garhwal University in Uttrakhand, Adityanath made his Parliament debut after winning the election in 1998 from Gorakhpur. He continued to win the seat for five times with large margins, except in 2004 when Samajwadi Party’s Jamuna Nishad gave him a tough fight. He won by just 5,000 votes. Chief priest:Adityanathreceiveddeeksha (teachings) of the Nath sect at the Gorakhnath temple in February, 1994. As per the sect’s traditions, his ears were pierced amid rituals associated with the temple. He addressed Mahant Avidyanath, his maternal uncle, as Guruji. Adityanath took over as chief priest of Gorakhnath temple after Avidyanath passed away in 2014. Controversies/ cases: Adityanath’s radical proHindutva image came to the fore for the first time in February 1999, when he allegedly tried to capture a graveyard land by planting a peepal tree at Panch Rukhiya village in Maharajganj district.
UP will be successful in establishing development and good governance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’. I am grateful to the governor for inviting us to form the government, YOGI ADITYANATH, CM-designate
A case under several sections was registered against him in the Kotwali police station.
In 2007, just before the assembly elections, Adityanath had to spend 15 days in jail when he was booked for inciting riots in Gorakhpur and adjoining areas which saw the killing of a Muslim youth. Riots broke out after a provocative speech by Adityanath following the killing of a Hindu youth in January. He was booked again by police. He is still facing trial in the two cases.
Strained relations: In 2007, upset with the BJP for not helping him during a crisis when he was jailed for communal riots, Adityanath fielded candidates from his nationalist outfit, the Hindu Yuva Vahini, against party nominees. The same year, he showed his clout when he fielded and ensured victory for Radha Mohan Das Aggarwal on a Hindu Mahasabha ticket. Adityanath was ignored by the central leadership as he was not inducted in the Modi ministry despite being a law-maker for five times.
Saints demand: Even as the BJP earlier constantly ignored growing demands to project Adityanath as the party’s CM candidate, a meeting of saints and seers from Ayodhya and other places, held at the Gorakhnath temple in 2016, pitched him as the CM face and pointed out that decks for construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya could only be cleared when Adityanath became CM.
Polarising figure in 2017 polls: Adityanath helped BJP reap the benefits of a highly-polarised Uttar Pradesh. He first raked up the issue of alleged discrimination in power supply during Hindu and Muslim festivals and also in allocation of land for ‘kabristan’ and ‘shamshan’, which was later highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also made highly controversial comments on issues such as love jihad, cow slaughter and forcible conversion.
Handled rebellion: A faction of Adityanath’s HYV revolted when its members were denied tickets by BJP in the just concluded assembly elections. They emerged as big trouble for BJP by announcing to contest elections against the saffron party candidates in alliance with Shiv Sena. The revolt was immediately crushed by Adityanath, who sacked rebel leaders. Later, some rebels took back their nominations on his initiative.
Daily routine (till now): Sources close to him say Adityanath began his day with yoga at 3 am. This was followed by puja at the Gorakhnath temple and finally a Janata Darbar at his office where he tried to redress grievances of the people.