Around eleven years ago, when Narendra Modi entered national politics during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the entire country was echoing with the idea of the Gujarat Model. Gujarat at that time was presented as an ideal state in terms of industry, investment, infrastructure, and power supply. “Development is the solution to all problems” was the central slogan. But with time, the language of politics, public expectations, and the very definition of governance have changed. In the political landscape of 2025, the BJP is promoting Yogi Adityanath’s UP Model or Yogi Model far more than Narendra Modi’s Gujarat Model. The reason is the growing public preference for security, strictness, and direct action.
After becoming the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in 2017, Yogi Adityanath took a path that overturned conventional perceptions of administration. He declared law and order as the first condition for development. The bulldozer became the symbol of his crackdown on criminals. Over the past few years, the image of “Bulldozer Baba” has gained recognition not only in UP’s politics but across the entire country. Demolition of illegal constructions, the fall of assets belonging to mafia groups, and swift police action against criminals all these have given the Yogi Model a distinct identity. While the Gujarat Model focused on development, investment, and industrial promotion, the Yogi Model has become synonymous with law, order, and strictness. A large section of the public now links development directly with security. People believe that without rule of law, neither investment nor development can sustain. This thinking is what makes the Yogi Model unique and relevant. It is a model that talks about uplifting the poor while showing no leniency toward criminals.
The BJP has made this model a crucial part of its election strategy. In states like Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Haryana, BJP leaders have projected Yogi Adityanath as a one-man army in their campaigns. Phrases like “the bulldozer will run” and “mafia-free state” have become common in their speeches. This strategy has benefitted the BJP in many states, as Yogi’s image has emerged as that of an administrator who fears no one and does not take decisions based on caste or religion. The influence of the Yogi Model is not limited to northern India. In northeastern states like Assam and Manipur, the term “Yogi-style action” has started appearing in government contexts. Even the Eknath Shinde government in Maharashtra has described its actions against crime and illegal structures as inspired by Uttar Pradesh. From Delhi to Karnataka, bulldozer drives against criminals have become common in BJP-ruled states. This shows how Yogi Adityanath has turned administrative strictness into a new face of national political strategy.
Another significant aspect of this model is that it is deeply connected with public sentiment. Ordinary citizens believe that strict action against crime, corruption, and mafia elements is the real form of justice. Yogi Adityanath understood this sentiment well. While people had begun to expect more concrete results from the previously abstract notion of “development,” the bulldozer model gave them immediate and visible outcomes falling buildings, razed illegal structures, and the arrest of criminals. This reassures people that governance is happening not just on paper but on the ground. Economically too, the Yogi Model has marked its presence. Uttar Pradesh has become one of the leading states in attracting investment. Securing billions of rupees in the Global Investors Summit indicates that industries can indeed thrive in a strict law-and-order environment. Foreign investors now consider UP a safe investment destination. Prime Minister Modi himself has repeatedly praised the Yogi government for redefining good governance through administrative firmness.
Politically, the Yogi Model has given the BJP a new “development versus crime” binary. This has given the party a moral advantage over the opposition. When the opposition raises issues like unemployment and inflation, the BJP counters by highlighting the Yogi Model and arguing that a crime-free society is the foundation of all development. This is why Yogi Adityanath is now seen as the most popular leader in the BJP after Modi. His image represents not only Hindutva politics but also that of a results-oriented administrator.
Interestingly, the discussion around the Yogi Model is not confined within India’s borders. Political analysts in neighbouring countries like Nepal and Sri Lanka have commented on it. Several provincial leaders in Nepal have openly said that their regions need a governance style as strict as Yogi Adityanath’s to fight crime and corruption. On Bangladeshi social media too, bulldozer actions have been a widely discussed topic. Many in South Asian countries are starting to believe that even within democratic systems, strong leadership can curb crime and disorder. Of course, some critics argue that the Yogi Model challenges legal procedures. They claim that bulldozers cannot deliver justice only strong laws can bring real change. But supporters argue that the Yogi government has restored public confidence in law enforcement. Creating fear among criminals and trust among citizens is seen as a major administrative achievement and this is the strongest foundation of the Yogi Model.
Meanwhile, a debate is underway within the BJP on how the Yogi Model can be implemented on a national level in the coming years. The central government’s policies already show glimpses of Yogi’s style combining welfare with strict enforcement. The Modi-Yogi combination has become a new source of political energy for the BJP. While Modi manages India’s international image, Yogi has become the symbol of grassroots governance. Today, when the BJP launches an election campaign in any new state, Yogi Adityanath’s rallies are in highest demand. His slogans like “the mafia will see the bulldozer” electrify the crowds. People see in Yogi a leader who promises a fear-free society. This image has now become the BJP’s new face. In this changing political landscape, it is clear that the Yogi Model has now become not just a governance style but a political ideology one that has made security and good governance complementary to each other.
By Sanjay Saxena, from Lucknow
(The content of this article reflects the views of writer and contributor, not necessarily those of the publisher and editor. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Delhi/New Delhi only)
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