YOGI ADITYANATH’S UTTAR PRADESH : FROM CRIME TO DEVELOPMENT 

After India’s independence, the United Provinces were reorganized as Uttar Pradesh (UP) in 1950. The state has provided seven Prime Ministers to the country and has the largest number of seats in Parliament. Despite its political significance, UP struggled with economic underdevelopment, organized crime, corruption, and caste and communal violence. Govind Ballabh Pant was the first Chief Minister of the state. Congress dominated the UP politics up to 1967. By the 1990s, caste based and Hindutva politics began reshaping UP’s political landscape. The BJP gained prominence, capitalizing on the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. The Mandal Commission report (on OBC reservation) implementation in 1990 led to the rise of Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP) and Mayawati (BSP). Kalyan Singh (BJP) was the CM when the disputed structure of Babri Masjid was demolished in 1992, leading to President’s Rule. From 1993 to 1999, the state saw alternating governments of SP, BSP, and BJP, often through unstable alliances. SP and BSP dominated the UP politics from 1999 to 2017. UP has had 21 Chief Ministers, including 11 from the Congress and two women, Sucheta Kripalani and Mayawati.
 

Rise of Yogi Adityanath

Born as Ajay Mohan Bist in 1972, in Pauri Garhwal, Yogi Adityanath completed graduation in Mathematics from H N B Garhwal University and  became a disciple of Mahant Avaidyanath, the head of Gorakhpur Math. He was renamed as Yogi Adityanath after becoming a monk and was later appointed the successor to Mahant Avaidyanath. He became actively involved in Hindutva politics and the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, advocating for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. In 1998, at the age of 26, Yogi was elected to Lok Sabha from Gorakhpur on a BJP ticket, making him one of the youngest MPs in India. He won five consecutive Lok Sabha elections from the same constituency. In 2002 he founded Hindu Yuva Vahini, a right wing youth organization known for its aggressive Hindutva stance, which was instrumental in Yogi’s meteoric rise. As an MP, he was known for his outspoken speeches, Hindutva ideology, and work in Eastern UP on issues like health, education, and infrastructure. By 2017, Yogi Adityanath had established himself as a firebrand Hindu leader with a strong political base in Gorakhpur and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. His hardline stance on Hindu issues and strong organizational support made him a natural choice as UP Chief Minister when the BJP secured a historic win in the 2017 assembly elections.    

 The Samajwadi Party won 224 seats in the house of 403 members in the 2012 assembly elections and Akhilesh Yadav was sworn in as the 20th Chief Minister of UP and completed five year tenure. In 2017, SP lost the elections because of various reasons including, dissatisfaction of voters with its governance, especially over law and order issues, allegations of corruption and crime affecting the state’s image. On the other hand BJP’s strong campaign and strategy led by Narendra Modi and Amit Shah focusing on development and Hindutva politics resulted in a landslide victory for the party with 312 out of 403 seats. Yogi Adityanath was sworn in as the 21st CM of the state in March 2017, ending 15 years of non BJP rule. In 2022, Yogi became the first CM to be re-elected for a second consecutive term in UP since 1985.
 

Achievements of Yogi Government (2017-2024)

Economic growth and investment- The state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew from approximately Rs 12 lakh crore in 2017 to Rs 26 lakh crore in 2023-24, with projections aiming for Rs 32 lakh crore by 2025. This growth positions UP as leading contributor to India’s GDP. Over 90 lakh MSME registered, generating large-scale employment.

Investment influx- The Global Investors Summit attracted investment proposals of about Rs 30 lakh crore, boosting business growth. This surge is attributed to progressive economic policies and a crackdown on organized crime, fostering more business-friendly environment.

Law and Order- The administration’s zero-tolerance policy towards crime has led to a decrease in incidents such as murder, dacoity, loot, riots and rape, crime mafia has almost ceased to exist. Anti-Romeo Squads formed to curb harassment of women. Establishment of new police stations and recruitment of large number of police personnel have strengthened law enforcement.

Land Reclamation- Anti-Land Mafia Task Force has reclaimed huge land from illegal occupiers, demonstrating the government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law.

Medical Infrastructure- The state has witnessed a massive increase in medical education infrastructure. Thirty new government medical colleges have been established in the last eight years, the number of private medical colleges has also gone up. The state now has over 100 medical colleges and MBBS seats have increased from 3000 in 2017 to 12000 in 2024.

Cultural and Religious Initiatives- Annual Deepotsav event in Ayodhya has gained international recognition, with 2.51 million oil lamps lit in 2024. Ram Mandir spearheaded development and transformed Ayodhya into global spiritual destination. The successful organization of the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj with over 600 million pilgrims attending, displays government’s ability to manage large-scale events. The infrastructure development in Ayodhya, Varanasi, and Prayagraj has promoted religious tourism and will support the local economy.

Expressways- Completion of Purvanchal and Bundelkhand Expressways, along with ongoing work on the Ganga Expressway has enhanced connectivity and spurred regional development.

Urban Transit- Metro rail projects have been expanded to cities like Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, Meerut, Ghaziabad, and Noida, improving urban transportation and reducing congestion.

Aviation Infrastructure- New international airports at Kushinagar and Ayodhya are operational, Noida International Airport in Jewar is set to be inaugurated in 2025. The airports in Lucknow, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Agra, and Prayagraj have been upgraded and new airports are coming up in some more cities.

Social Welfare and Utilities- Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, UP led in housing initiatives, along  with free electricity and gas connections to millions of households. The construction of millions of toilets has significantly enhanced sanitation and hygiene across the state.

These accomplishments reflect the Yogi Adityanath government’s commitment to fostering economic development, enhancing infrastructure, crime control, promoting social welfare, improving healthcare and education, and preserving cultural heritage with religious tourism development over the past eight years. All the welfare schemes have been implemented without any discrimination. His leadership has undeniably shaped modern UP, with both supporters and critics acknowledging his significant impact. UP is now recognized for its development rather than crime, marking a significant shift in its identity.

By Manoj Dubey
Principal (Retd.)
Delhi Public Schools

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