Eight Years of Yogi Adityanath’s Governance: From ‘Bulldozer Baba’ to ‘Vikas Purush’

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh has completed eight years over two consecutive terms, making Yogi Adityanath the longest-serving Chief Minister of the state. As one of the most prominent faces of the BJP, Adityanath’s governance has been marked by a strong focus on law and order, Hindutva, populist schemes, and a push for economic growth and infrastructure development.

Law and Order: The Hallmark of Yogi 1.0

From the outset, the Adityanath government prioritized security and law enforcement, implementing a statewide crackdown on criminals. Measures such as bulldozing properties of accused criminals, police encounters, and public shaming of suspects sparked significant controversy and legal scrutiny. These actions led to multiple court interventions, including a Supreme Court ruling in November 2024 that established guidelines for property demolitions.

Following its victory in the 2022 Assembly elections, the government’s focus appeared to shift from aggressive law enforcement to economic development. Adityanath set an ambitious target of transforming Uttar Pradesh into a $1 trillion economy. To achieve this, the government hosted investment summits and introduced policy reforms to attract business, including tax incentives, land subsidies, and loan reimbursements.

Yogi Govt 1.0: Strengthening Security and Economic Foundations

The BJP’s 23-page manifesto for the 2017 Assembly elections promised reforms across multiple sectors. Upon assuming office on March 19, 2017, Adityanath’s first major decision was a Rs 36,000 crore loan waiver benefiting over 80 lakh marginalized farmers. To enhance women’s security, the government introduced ‘Anti-Romeo Squads’ to curb harassment.

In February 2018, the administration organized the first investors’ summit, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leading industrialists, signaling a shift toward economic revitalization. The government also passed significant legislative measures, including:

• Uttar Pradesh Prayagraj Mela Authority Allahabad Act, 2017 and Shri Kashi Vishwanath Vishesh Kshetra Vikas Parishad Varanasi Act, 2018 to develop religious tourism.
• Prevention of Cow Slaughter (Amendment) Act, 2020, imposing stringent penalties on illegal cattle transport.
• Uttar Pradesh Recovery of Damage to Public and Private Property Act, 2020, used to publicly name alleged protestors against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).
• Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act, 2021, aimed at preventing forced conversions.

However, the administration faced criticism for the number of criminals killed in police encounters. In the first ten months alone, over 900 encounters were conducted, resulting in 30 deaths. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and courts raised concerns about procedural violations.

Adityanath’s bulldozer policy gained nationwide attention as authorities demolished properties of alleged criminals, earning him the moniker “Bulldozer Baba.” This strongman image became a key campaign tool for the BJP in elections across India.

Yogi Govt 2.0: Economic Push and Temple Development

The second term of the Adityanath government, beginning March 25, 2022, saw a more pronounced shift toward economic progress. One of its first actions was extending the free ration scheme, a major factor in the BJP’s electoral success.

The administration launched initiatives to transform Uttar Pradesh into an economic powerhouse, setting a $1 trillion economy goal by 2029. Policy reforms included:

• Easing business regulations
• Stamp duty exemptions
• Capital subsidies
• Loan interest reimbursements

To attract investment, Udyog Bandhu was restructured into Invest UP, and government delegations engaged with potential investors across India and abroad. The 2023 Global Investors Summit claimed to have secured investment proposals worth Rs 40 lakh crore, though many projects remain in progress.

Despite shifting focus, the administration maintained pressure on criminals. In April 2023, gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf were assassinated while in police custody. The government also successfully extradited Mukhtar Ansari from Punjab, leading to his imprisonment and subsequent death due to a heart attack in March 2024.

By mid-2023, Adityanath prioritized the completion of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, which was consecrated on January 22, 2024. His administration also allocated significant funds to religious tourism, upgrading roads, and forming development authorities for religious sites.

Electoral Setback and Maha Kumbh 2025

Despite its efforts, the BJP suffered a setback in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, winning only 33 out of 80 seats, compared to the Samajwadi Party’s (SP) 37 seats. Notably, the party lost the Ayodhya (Faizabad) seat to the SP.

By the end of 2024, the government’s primary focus shifted to organizing Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj, one of the world’s largest religious gatherings. The event saw a record 66 crore visitors, boosting the local economy. However, a stampede on January 29 led to at least 30 fatalities, overshadowing the success of the event.

Unfulfilled Promises

One key BJP manifesto promise that remains unfulfilled is the distribution of scooters to meritorious girl students, despite budget allocations. The selection of beneficiaries is yet to be completed.

Conclusion: The Evolution of Yogi Adityanath’s Leadership

Yogi Adityanath’s governance has undergone a transformation—from a hardline enforcer of law and order in his first term to an advocate of economic growth and religious tourism in his second. While his policies have attracted significant investment and infrastructure development, his administration continues to be scrutinized for human rights concerns and legal violations. With the 2027 Assembly elections approaching, it remains to be seen whether Adityanath’s dual identity as ‘Bulldozer Baba’ and ‘Vikas Purush’ will secure another term for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh.