Yogi Adityanath has returned to power in style but there are lingering challenges
With Yogi Adityanath again taking oath as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, a new chapter has begun. The State’s people have generously voted him to power. It is no mean achievement as Yogi bulldozed through many obstacles which dogged his first tenure as the CM. However, when the initial euphoria dies, many issues would come to the fore and pose a challenge to Yogi Government 2.0. In a major initial decision, the Yogi Government has extended the distribution of free ration for three more months but that is at best a stop-gap arrangement. The State is under financial strain and continuing sops would have to be stopped eventually. And when that happens, people would again start demanding employment, and the betterment of their living conditions. In the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) list, UP holds 31st position among 33 States. The lasting solution to all woes of people is development. Real development means economic development, that is growth in the manufacturing and service sector which in turn increases employment opportunities. Before the polls, work on the Jhewar airport started with much fanfare as did the work on several expressways and other infrastructure projects. Now he would have to complete these and make them functional.
These projects had helped create an impression that UP was in the fast lane of development. But the fact is that hardly any investment came to UP in the last five years and the State desperately needs investments. The business sentiment has been rather low and despite tall claims, substantial investment is not coming. Revival of the agriculture sector is a must. The rise in input costs has offset farmers’ profits and left them seeking more subsidies. The pending payments of sugarcane growers must be a priority. Besides, Yogi would have to find a solution to the problem of stray cattle, which is a major issue for farmers. Another major challenge for the CM would be to hold on to its turf as the Samajwadi Party challenge has grown in size. Yogi, though he formed the Government, lost 57 seats while the SP increased its seat share. Moreover, many pressing issues — maintaining law and order, inviting investments, creating infrastructure, reviving closed industries, assuaging aspirations of various castes — would be major challenges. How Yogi handles these would define the course of Uttar Pradesh politics and his career.