When the Mahant of Gorakshapeeth in Gorakhpur was made `Mahant’ of Uttar Pradesh, eyebrows were raised. It was speculated whether Yogi Adityanath would be able to take this politically sensitive state to the path of development as Chief Minister. A month down the line, Yogi has been able to send the message loud and clear that he means business.
The biggest test for this government was controlling law and order as well as improving work culture in the government offices. Thirty days is too small a time to judge any government on these two parameters. But the indicators available clearly indicate that the Yogi government has been able to instill belief among masses that this government has come with new ideas.
Uttar Pradesh has never witnessed what Yogi has done. He took charge on March 19 but carried out his first bureaucratic reshuffle in the third week and another reshuffle was carried out the day when Yogi completed 30 days in office.
It has been routine that with change of government the first decision any Chief Minister takes is carrying out bureaucratic reshuffle.
The Yogi government is working with just one Principal Secretary and three Special Secretaries in its secretariat while the previous governments had a team of 10-12 bureaucrats in CM’s secretariat.
Interestingly, Chief Secretary Rahul Bhatnagar and DGP Javeed Ahmad who were appointed by the previous Akhilesh Yadav government have not been changed even after a month. Interestingly, during elections the BJP had called DGP a `Samajwadi pawn’ and had petitioned Election Commission to change him.
Deputy Chief Minister Dr Dinesh Sharma told 'The Pioneer' that the Yogi government means business. The bureaucracy is the tool which delivers decisions taken by political masters. “We want these officers to deliver and they are working as per the desire of Chief Minister. That’s why they have not been transferred,” he said.
The last one month has seen restoring confidence of people about police. Officials say that the CM and Deputy CMs are in regular touch with Districts Magistrates and SPs. The DIGs have been asked to reach crime spot in case of any big incident. “Police janata mein dikhni chahiye (police should be visible among people,” is the strict directive of Chief Minister and officials are adhering to it.
Yogi, as Mahant of Gorakshpeeth, had a regular routine that included holding 'Janata durbar' in the morning and then supervising work in temple as well as his parliamentary constituency of Gorakhpur.
This routine has continued in 5, Kalidas Marg – the official residence of Chief Minister – where he meets people in the morning and reviews work. Departmental presentations are held after 6 pm so that official work is not hampered. He works till 1 am in the morning.
This work culture has made a positive impact with the officials. They are now reaching office on time, giving stress on cleanliness and listening to the woes of people.
State BJP general secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak said that the biggest stress on us was to implement the `sankalp patra’ and this government made beginning in first month itself.
"We promised farm loan waivers and we did it. This government took decisions on wheat purchase doubling the target to 80 million ton and also declared a minimum support price for potato. And then we promised setting up of anti-Romeo squad and we did it. The impact has been very positive and for everyone to see,” Pathak said.