Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, asserted that caste-based divisions fragment society while shared faith and cultural traditions act as a binding force, holding up Ayodhya's Deepotsav as a living example of that social cohesion. The remarks came through posts on social media platform X, ahead of Diwali celebrations across the state.

Deepotsav as a Symbol of Unity

In his post, CM Yogi argued that governments before 2017 had weaponised caste divisions for political gain and, in doing so, neglected the unifying power embedded in Uttar Pradesh's cultural heritage. 'Caste rigidity divides society, while shared faith and culture weave it into a single thread. Shri Ayodhya ji's Deepotsav is a vibrant example of this social unity. Before 2017, governments that made caste divisions the basis of politics completely ignored this cultural force that unites society,' he said.

The Chief Minister credited the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government with launching Deepotsav in 2017 and repositioning Ayodhya — also known as Ram Nagari — as a festival space open to every section of society. He noted that under the guidance of religious leaders and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, participants now include saints, students, sanitation workers, potters, and traders, all joining with equal devotion.

'Here, identity is not determined by caste, but by participation. Lamps are lit by different hands, but their light unites the entire society. This is the message of Deepotsav. This is the vision of a harmonious society,' Yogi said.

Attack on the Previous UP Government

In a separate post on X, CM Yogi targeted his predecessors, alleging that a 'family-centric' style of governance had left the struggles of economically weaker households — particularly women — invisible in policy. 'When the government's priority is its own family, the suffering of poor families becomes obscured by the policies of the administration. In the previous government in Uttar Pradesh, the situation was similar. Amid the politics of familism, millions of mothers and sisters were compelled to spend their lives in smoke-filled kitchens,' he wrote.

The remarks are widely read as a pointed reference to the Samajwadi Party government that preceded the BJP's 2017 election victory in the state.

LPG Subsidies Worth ₹1,500 Crore Announced

Highlighting the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, Yogi said the Modi government had prioritised public welfare by extending clean cooking fuel to poor households, thereby improving women's health, convenience, and dignity. He announced that LPG refill subsidies worth ₹1,500 crore would be distributed among more than 1.89 crore eligible families in Uttar Pradesh at an event in Lucknow on the occasion of Diwali.

The Chief Minister reaffirmed that the government's commitment was to ensure no poor family was forced back to traditional, smoke-producing chulhas due to financial constraints. He also thanked Prime Minister Modi for his continued support to women and underprivileged families, and extended advance Diwali greetings to mothers and sisters across the state.

Political Context and What to Watch

Yogi's dual message — cultural unity through Deepotsav and welfare delivery through Ujjwala — follows a pattern the BJP has used ahead of festival seasons: framing its governance record against the alleged failures of opposition-era administrations. This comes amid heightened political attention on Uttar Pradesh, a state whose electoral outcomes have historically shaped national politics. Whether the ₹1,500 crore Diwali subsidy event in Lucknow translates into measurable political capital ahead of future state elections will be closely watched by both allies and opponents.