LUCKNOW: With less than 18 hours to go to the first phase of voting, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath tweeted a picture in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi has raised his hand high, tagging a couplet proclaiming victory.
The couplet with the picture, apparently clicked in Delhi and signifying yet another endorsement of Yogi by PM Modi, says: "Pidit, shoshit, duhkhit baandhavon ke hamako hain kasht mitane, date hue hain raashtradharm par seena taane... kadam nirantar chalte jinake, shram jinka aviraam hai, Vijay sunishchit hoti unki, ghoshit yah parinaam hai... (We have to eradicate the sufferings of the oppressed. Those who stand for nationalism, walk continuously and work hard...their victory is certain)".
Political analysts were quick to interpret the political message hidden behind the photograph -- PM Modi is assured of the BJP's victory in UP under the leadership of Yogi.
A senior party leader pointed out how PM Modi has been repeatedly appreciating Yogi's style of governance while being highly critical of SP which has been emerging as the most potent rival of the BJP. Experts said that Yogi's validation by Modi will help the BJP counter the opposition which has been flexing its muscles to thwart prospects of saffron dispensation returning to office in March.
In November last year, Yogi had shared a photograph showing PM Modi engaged in a serious discussion with a hand around the CM's shoulder. The picture, captioned, "We have set out with a pledge, by dedicating our body and mind, with the determination to make a sun rise, to go higher than amber, to make a new India", had also marked Modi's affirmation of Yogi's leadership and his government.
This photograph had come against the background of Yogi's detractor who stoked apprehensions that "all was not well" between Yogi and Modi. In fact, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav had then tweeted: "duniya ki khatir, siyaasat mein kabhi yun bhi karna padta hai... beman se kandhe par rakh haath, kuch qadam sang chalna padta hai...(Sometimes in politics you have to restlessly put your hand on the shoulder and walk with along few steps).
