[Modi-Shah duo are, surely, bent upon following the "Gujarat model" in UP, the largest state of India - and politically/electorally most significant. Having once tasted blood, they're just thirsting for more. And, no pussy-footing, no squeamishness, nothing of the sort.
I'd, in this context, like to recall a note of mine, 'BJP's Real Agenda', carried by the EPW back in its Feb 07-13, 1998 issue. Arguably a relevant extract: "While aggression/exclusion is crucial, and in fact indispensable, for expanding (and even retaining) the support base, particularly amongst the lower stratum of the social pyramid, the moderation/accommodation phase constitutes the interregnum necessary for stabilisation during retreat and/or respite (primarily on account of lack of Mate patronage). This, however, is gainfully utilised to reassure the supporters from amongst the upper castes/classes, who look upon the BJP mainly as a bulwark against Mandal and the promoter of a ’strong’ state considered essential for implementing the liberalisation/globalisation agenda but do not have the stomach for the prolonged turmoil, and also to pick up allies and accomplices from within the centrist political spectrum." (May look up: <http://www.europe-solidaire.org/spip.php?article30113>.) So, the gloves are off! They're out again foregrounding the aggression/exclusion elementing, at least partly, relegating much trumpeted "development". Comapre this with the concluding paragraph of the article reproduced below: "Adityanath's anointment is now full proof of the makeover of the BJP under Modi and Shah, an unapologetic, battle-hardened election fighting machine which takes no prisoners. In a significant way, all the talk of Vikas is also off the table, as with two years to go for 2019, and some significant elections to win, the BJP goes back to basics. Brace yourself, turbulence ahead." The fools who had failed to see through the game plan are bound to suffer, rather grievouly. And, make so many others, not falling under the same category, also suffer the same fate. That's even more unfortunate.] http://www.ndtv.com/opinion/what-yogi-adityanath-choice-says-about-modi-shah-rss-1670976 What Yogi Adityanath Choice Says About Modi-Shah, RSS Published: March 18, 2017 20:30 IST Swati Chaturvedi A 44-year-old monk Yogi Adityanath, often surrounded by gun- toting followers, will be the Chief Minister of India's politically most important state, Uttar Pradesh. After securing a record majority in UP, the Bharatiya Janata Party has now transformed its win into an expression of complete majoritarianism as Adityanath is a radical along the most delicate fault lines that bedevil UP. It seems that the "Mukhota" (mask) is well and truly off. After the decision was announced, while the ecstatic crowds roared "Desh Mein Modi, Pradesh Mein Yogi", less enthused observers wondered what this bodes for Modi's much used slogan "Sab ka Saath, Sab ka Vikas". Adityanath is a five-term MP from Gorakhpur, a science graduate from Garhwal University, but he has absolutely no administrative experience. Modi twice offered him central jobs as Minister of State, Adityanath said a resolute no. He has made no bones about his desire to be UP Chief Minister and has earlier told me that it was his "Sankalp" (resolve) to serve his karambhoomi ( birthplace). In many ways, Adityanath's anointment is a Modi as Gujarat CM redux moment. Modi was equally dogged in his ambition to be Chief Minister and ensured that a reluctant central BJP was left with hardly a choice but to give in. He also ensured that the BJP cadre forced his announcement as PM candidate in 2014, while some top leaders including LK Advani and Sushma Swaraj were palpably reluctant. Adityanath as Chief Minister will put the Hindutva agenda centre-stage in UP. This perhaps is the main reason behind his selection as the Sangh Parivar is now chary of any divisions in the large "Hindu Samaj" that they have managed to cobble together in UP. This "Hindutva vote" which broke down impregnable caste divisions and secured the BJP a historic mandate which is to be kept together by any means. What does Adityanath's anointment mean for UP? The signs so far are not reassuring. Posters were put up in Bareilly asking Muslims to leave; in Bulandshahr, a group tried to hoist a BJP flag atop a mosque, according to this report. During the campaign, Adityanath stuck to his fire-brand dog-whistle script, which the BJP has always conveniently dismissed as "fringe". In UP, "fringe" is now centre-stage. The BJP did not give a ticket to a single Muslim candidate for the assembly elections; this legislature has the lowest number of Muslims in 25 years. Only 25 Muslims will be in the assembly this time, while they comprise 18 percent of UP's population. Adityanath's ascent will be a tough pill to swallow as he has often made controversial and minority-baiting speeches about "love jihad" and "appeasement". Adityanath will also be a completely unknown quantity to the UP administration which is hugely lethargic in delivery to the swathes of desperately poor and backward. Modi had promised Vikas (development) to the UP voter. What version of Vikas will Adityanath deliver? Will he focus on "bijli, sadak, paani" (electricity, roads, water) which UP desperately needs, or will he choose "mandir" politics? UP needs jobs and a chance to get out of its hugely backward state. Observers are wary of Adityanath's credentials to deliver development. yogi adityanath Yogi Adityanath Will Take Oath As UP's 32nd Chief Minister Tomorrow UP was the original "laboratory" for the Sangh's Hindutva agenda much before Gujarat and is still key to a Modi sweep in 2019, so the vote has to be kept intact. While this does explain the choice, it's still intriguing as Adityanath has always been his own man and is not known to get along with the central leadership. Interestingly, this time around, Amit Shah, during the campaign, gave him his own helicopter and for the first time, he campaigned outside his Purvanchal base. Despite this seeming bonhomie, his own outfit, the Hindu Yuva Sena, angry at Adityanath not being announced the presumptive Chief Minister, had put its own candidates in some seats. Adityanath disowned them. On the face of it. The BJP has done a careful, caste balancing act as well. Adityanath is a Thakur, and his two newly-minted deputies are Keshav Maurya, an OBC, and Lucknow Mayor Dinesh Sharma, a Brahmin. The caste coalition carefully cobbled together with Maurya will be kept intact for the mother of all battles of 2019. ***Adityanath's anointment is now full proof of the makeover of the BJP under Modi and Shah, an unapologetic, battle-hardened election fighting machine which takes no prisoners. In a significant way, all the talk of Vikas is also off the table, as with two years to go for 2019, and some significant elections to win, the BJP goes back to basics. Brace yourself, turbulence ahead.*** (Swati Chaturvedi is an author and a journalist who has worked with The Indian Express, The Statesman and The Hindustan Times.) -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. 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