As Yogi Adityanath began his second consecutive term as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in 2022, he was cautious about maintaining his image as a Hindutva leader. However, in recent weeks, as internal divisions within the BJP’s state leadership have surfaced following the party’s poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections, Adityanath has intensified his Hindutva approach. This shift is evident in several decisions made by the Uttar Pradesh government over the past month.

First, Adityanath intervened to reassure residents of two Hindu-majority colonies in Lucknow—Pant Nagar and Indraprastha Nagar—that their homes would not be demolished, despite the Irrigation Department marking them as being in the floodplain zone. This decision followed a months-long demolition operation in the Akbar Nagar area, where 1,800 structures, including houses and commercial establishments, were removed due to illegal encroachment on a floodplain zone.

Tensions between residents and the state administration have been high, with incidents like stone-pelting at officials and the issue even reaching the Supreme Court, which upheld the state’s actions.

Another significant move was the police order requiring roadside vendors and shopkeepers along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their names outside their establishments. Initially implemented in Muzaffarnagar, the directive was criticized for allegedly targeting Muslims, but the state administration expanded it to other parts of the state.

In late July, the state government proposed amendments to the anti-conversion law, making the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, more stringent. The amendment, passed on July 30, reinforces the government’s stance against “love jihad,” a term used by Hindu right-wing groups to describe alleged efforts by Muslim men to convert Hindu women through marriage.

Last week, Adityanath ordered the reactivation of “anti-Romeo squads,” first launched in 2017 to combat street harassment of women. These squads, composed mainly of female police officers supported by male colleagues, were deactivated in 2019 following reports of harassment against couples in public places.

At a recent event, Adityanath emphasized the need for unity against a perceived threat to Sanatan Dharma, suggesting that the construction of the Ram Temple was merely a milestone in a larger campaign to “secure Sanatan Dharma.”

Over the weekend, Adityanath also addressed the situation of Hindus in Bangladesh, accusing the opposition of remaining silent due to vote-bank politics. He pledged support for Bangladeshi Hindus, asserting that “being a Hindu in Bangladesh is not a mistake but a blessing.”

Shifting Image of Yogi Adityanath

Yogi Adityanath’s political journey began when his mentor, Mahant Avaidyanath, passed on his religious and political responsibilities, leading to his election as Gorakhpur MP in 1998 at the age of 26. Known for his strong Hindutva stance, Adityanath founded the Hindu Yuva Vahini in 2002, which became influential across eastern Uttar Pradesh and beyond. The group gained a reputation as cow vigilantes and was involved in several confrontations with other religious groups.

After becoming Chief Minister in 2017, Adityanath sought to moderate his image, dissolving the Hindu Yuva Vahini while maintaining outreach to Hindutva followers. He introduced measures like aerially showering flower petals on Kanwar Yatra pilgrims and cracking down on illegal slaughterhouses.

Upon returning to power in 2022, Adityanath appeared to further temper his stance, focusing more on developing Hindu pilgrimage sites and avoiding inflammatory statements during controversies like the Gyanvapi mosque dispute. However, with the BJP’s recent electoral setbacks and rising internal challenges, Adityanath seems to be reverting to his earlier, more hardline Hindutva approach.