'Popular' Yogi Adityanath, 'friend' Keshav Maurya: Decoding Amit Shah's UP speech

India Today

4 hours ago

Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent visit to Lucknow sparked political chatter as he shared the stage with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. The event, held to distribute appointment letters to over 60,000 newly recruited police personnel, marked Shah's first appearance in the state after the Lok Sabha elections and was closely watched for signals regarding the BJP's political direction in Uttar Pradesh.advertisementDuring the hour-long event, Shah sat at the centre of the stage with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on his right and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya on his left.As the programme progressed, Shah was seen interacting with both leaders. However, it was his address that drew the most attention, particularly when he referred to Maurya as his "priya mitra" (dear friend) in Yogi Adityanath's presence.
The remark gained significant traction on social media. While most viral clips focused on Shah calling Maurya his friend, they left out the earlier part of his speech where he praised Yogi as "the most popular (lokpriya ) and successful Chief Minister".With this, Shah seemed to make two key messages clear: one, that there is no question over Yogi's leadership in the state, and two, that Keshav Maurya remains an important and trusted figure within the BJP leadership.advertisementBy publicly acknowledging Maurya as his friend, Shah sent a clear message within party ranks that Maurya, despite recent setbacks, continues to enjoy the confidence of the top leadership. Shah's remarks also appeared to reassert Maurya's relevance as the BJP's most prominent OBC face in Uttar Pradesh, especially at a time when his political stature had seemingly diminished after losing his own seat in the Assembly elections and facing setbacks in his region during the Lok Sabha polls.Observers noted that Shah's speech not only reaffirmed Yogi Adityanath's place as the BJP's face in the state but also clarified that the party's future strategy would continue to revolve around key OBC leaders like Keshav Maurya.The BJP, which rose to power in UP with a carefully crafted caste coalition, appears to be returning to its old formula ahead of the 2027 elections.The BJP's renewed emphasis on OBC representation also comes against the backdrop of the opposition's growing focus on caste narratives. Akhilesh Yadav has repeatedly called the Yogi government a regime of a particular caste and has pushed the narrative of "Thakur vs PDA" (Pichda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak). Shah's subtle endorsement of Maurya, therefore, is also being viewed as a course correction to counter this opposition line.advertisementYadav, responding to Shah's speech, first took a swipe at the BJP on social media and later targeted the Yogi government during a press conference, pointing out the absence of Maurya in some posters and questioning the party's internal dynamics.Amit Shah's speech was also carefully aligned with the setting. Of the more than 60,000 recruits, 15 individuals representing various castes and communities received their appointment letters symbolically from the Union Minister. This caste-conscious selection was seen as a signal of the BJP's intention to maintain social balance and appeal across groups.With this visit, Shah appeared to have reset the BJP's political message in Uttar Pradesh. As the party looks ahead to 2027, the signal is clear: the top leadership stands firmly with Yogi Adityanath as the face of the government and sees Keshav Maurya as a vital part of its ongoing OBC outreach.Must Watch