A mega socio-religious event is on cards again in Uttar Pradesh.
In Jan 2024, it was Ayodhya and the grand Ram temple. But the elections in India's most populated stated did not according to BJP and Narendra Modi's calculations. Namo almost lost power !
Now all eyes will be on Mahakumbh of 2025.
Besides enthusiastic tourists and Hindu devotees from across the country; there will be lakhs pouring in also from different parts of the world. The 2019 show was also grand.
Obviously the Uttar Pradesh government is making all-out administrative efforts to make arrangements for the Mahakumbh, the sacred Hindu event.
Of course Yogi as the chief minister called on PM Narendra Modi and BJP chief J P Nadda, also Union Health Minister, and briefed them about the Mahakumbh preparations.
But it's a fact of life that the bypolls to nine assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh are also being seen a litmus test for the BJP, especially for the chief minister himself.
The Lotus party suffered a big setback in the Lok Sabha polls during which the INDIA bloc did better than the ruling alliance in the seat tally.
Worse, BJP even lost the Faizabad seat - that houses Ayodhya. A section of commentators suggested differences between Yogi and BJP high command - especially Amit Shah-J P Nadda combo might have harmed BJP prospected in the Lok Sabha polls.
There were apparently problems in the selection of candidates as reportedly many nominees as recommended by Yogi were denied tickets.
The BJP poll strategists are also working overtime. Now stage is set for over 50 public rallies to be addressed by top BJP leaders for the party and NDA partners.
Of course Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be a star camaigner. But several key rallies will be addressed also by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Though the party circles either play it down or deny; there are claims and counter claims that Yogi and Amit Shah have developed differences between themselves as both of them are keen to be seen as 'natural' successors to Narendra Modi, who will be touching 75 next year.
Born in 1950, Yogi is 20 years younger to Modi. Amit Shah is of course senior to Yogi and has been a key BJP leader and Modi's associate for long.
Shah became BJP general secretary in-charge of UP in 2013 and that changed the course of politics in 2014 in the northern state. Shah succeeded Rajnath Singh to become BJP national president in 2014 and was responsible for party's expansion across India including in southern and north eastern states.
ends
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