Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has firmly dismissed ongoing speculation about a rift between him and the central leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Addressing these claims in a recent interview, Adityanath emphasized that such rumors are baseless and often arise simply for the sake of discussion
“Where does the question of differences even come from? I am here because of the party. Would I still be in this position if there were disagreements with the central leaders?” he stated in an interview with the Press Trust of India (PTI). His remarks come in response to repeated assertions by Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, who has accused the BJP-led governments at the state and central levels of being out of sync. Yadav has often compared the ruling arrangement to a “double-engine government” that, instead of working in harmony, appears to be “colliding.”
Last month, during a speech in Parliament, Yadav criticized the Uttar Pradesh government, particularly questioning its ability to implement the massive investment commitments it had previously announced. Referring to a major investment summit held in the state, he pointedly asked how much of the promised Rs 40 lakh crore in MoUs had actually materialized into real investments.
“Now, we are seeing reports that not just the engines but even the coaches of this government are colliding,” Yadav quipped, intensifying his criticism.
In his interview, Adityanath also touched upon the matter of election ticket distribution, clarifying that this process is overseen by the party’s parliamentary board and follows a rigorous screening procedure. “Anyone can say anything, but that does not mean we can control what people speak. One cannot shut someone’s mouth,” he said, dismissing the ongoing speculation.
Reports suggesting differences between Adityanath and senior BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, have surfaced periodically, often linked to discussions about power dynamics within the party. However, Adityanath’s statements reiterate that he remains committed to the party’s leadership and governance priorities.