Caste, religion or popularity? What led Modi to pick Adityanath as UP CM

Strong reactions to his selection aside, Yogi Adityanath is what the democratic process produced

Love him or hate him, Yogi Adityanath is what the democratic process produced. A five-term Lok Sabha MP, BJP leader Yogi Adityanath, who was sworn-in as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, has often been quoted as a symbol of communal strife and intolerance by the Opposition. He is hailed as a fiery Hindutva mascot by his supporters.

Yogi Adityanath's reputation of being controversy's favourite child, is an attribute Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah can relate to personally, hence, the decision to select him for Uttar Pradesh (or in Modi's words - 'Uttam