The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Thursday named Gorakhpur MP Yogi Adityanath as one of its star campaigners for the by-polls in Uttar Pradesh scheduled for Sep 13.
Adityanath has been a vocal and firebrand Hindutva leader who courted controversy recently after video footage showed him daring people behind what the party calls 'Love Jihad'. He allegedly threatened to convert 100 Muslim girls to Hindusim for each Hindu converted to Islam.
The 42-year-old MP was recently locked in a battle of words with Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav in the Lok Sabha during a debate.
He has often accused the SP and the Congress of appeasing the Muslim community for electoral gains.
He is one of the three star campaigners for the 11 state assembly and one parliamentary seat which go to by-polls Sep 13.
The other two campaigners named by the BJP's central election committee are Union Minister Kalraj Mishra and state president Laxmikant Bajpayi.
The opposition parties allege that Adityanath's appointment was yet another indication that the BJP was trying to polarise the by-polls on religious lines.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app