Yogi Adityanath accuses Congress, INDIA bloc of 'politics of anarchy' in Gorakhpur
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday, 4 November accused the Congress and the INDIA bloc of converting repeated electoral losses into what he called a 'politics of anarchy', asserting that their leaders displayed a complete absence of clarity, capacity, and credibility. The remarks came in Gorakhpur, ahead of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s 'Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao' (Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy) padyatra.
What Yogi Said
In a statement posted on X, Chief Minister Yogi said, 'The Congress and INDIA alliance, which is setting new records of defeat in elections, has now turned their frustration into a politics of anarchy. There is a complete lack of clarity, capacity, and credibility among their leaders. Disrespecting the mandate is the result of this very mindset.'
He further announced his participation in the march, saying he would join the padyatra 'to awaken the public against this anarchy and to protect the dignity of democracy.' Yogi also invoked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating the BJP was 'committed to safeguarding India's great democracy' under Modi's leadership.
The Padyatra: Route and Schedule
BJP National President Nitin Nabin reached Gorakhpur on Wednesday morning to lead the march. According to the schedule shared on the BJP National President's Office's X handle, the padyatra began at 12.10 pm from Maharana Pratap Inter College and concluded at Mata Kali Temple near the Sardar Patel statue.
Post the march, Nabin held a meeting with the intellectual community at 3.30 pm at Annexy Bhawan, Taramandal, followed by a session with public representatives at 5 pm at the same venue.
Organisational Context and Election Preparations
Nabin's visit to Gorakhpur is part of a broader organisational tour aimed at fine-tuning preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections. The series of meetings with senior party functionaries signals that the BJP is using the padyatra not merely as a street-level statement but as a vehicle to energise its organisational machinery in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the polls.
This comes amid sustained BJP messaging that frames opposition protests and agitations as anti-democratic. Notably, the 'Loktantra Bachao' campaign follows a pattern the party has deployed previously — using high-profile marches to counter opposition narratives and consolidate its base in key constituencies.
Opposition Response
Neither the Congress nor any INDIA bloc representative had issued a formal rebuttal to Yogi's remarks at the time of publication. The opposition coalition has previously countered such characterisations by pointing to what they describe as democratic backsliding under BJP-led governments at the Centre and in states.
As Assembly election timelines firm up, the intensity of such political exchanges is expected to rise sharply in Uttar Pradesh.