Yogi Adityanath

Yogi Adityanath (born Ajay Singh Bisht, 5 June 1972) is an Indian Hindu monk and politician serving as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh since 2017, making him the longest-serving CM of the state. He is the head priest (Mahant) of the Gorakhnath Math, a Hindu monastery in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. Known for his fiery rhetoric and Hindutva ideology, Yogi is one of the most prominent and polarizing political figures in India. Born in a Rajput family in Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, Ajay Singh Bisht went to Gorakhpur as a young man and became a disciple of Mahant Avaidyanath, the head of Gorakhnath Math. After his guru's death in 2014, he became the head of the monastery and took the name Yogi Adityanath. He was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1998 from Gorakhpur at the age of 26, making him one of the youngest MPs in Indian history. He represented Gorakhpur for five consecutive terms. In March 2017, Yogi Adityanath was unexpectedly appointed Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh after the BJP's massive victory in the state elections. His appointment was seen as a bold choice given his reputation as a firebrand Hindu nationalist. As CM, he has launched several ambitious initiatives including the Expressway development project, improved law and order through strict policing, the 'One District One Product' scheme for local industries, and free ration distribution during COVID-19. Under his leadership, UP's economy has grown significantly and the state has attracted record investment. Yogi's tenure has been marked by strict enforcement of law, bulldozer actions against illegal properties of criminals (earning him the nickname "Bulldozer Baba"), and controversial statements on religious issues. He has been both praised for improving UP's governance and criticized for alleged communal polarization. Despite the controversies, his popularity remains high and he is widely considered a potential future Prime Minister of India.