The successor to Modi is emerging, with an unexpected contender breaking through—India's "post-Modi era" is arriving faster than imagined.
While the outside world has long focused on Home Minister Shah, currently, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is making a bold breakthrough as a dark horse. This hardline monk, nicknamed the "Yogi," is quietly reshaping the rules of succession.
Uttar Pradesh, under his leadership, is India’s true "king of electoral votes." With the largest population in the country and the highest number of seats in the Lok Sabha, it has long been said: "Whoever wins Uttar Pradesh wins India." He has now governed for nine years and is aiming for a third term.
His performance may not be spectacular on paper, but he has maintained stability: the economy keeps pace with national averages, while law and order and the business environment have noticeably improved. What truly secures his position is his extreme embodiment of Hindu nationalist ideology—on some levels, he is more radical and purer than Modi himself.
His personal image is also highly potent: a genuine ascetic who has slept on wooden planks for thirty years, meditated at 4 a.m. daily, and practiced vegetarianism. To devout Hindus, this “renunciant” persona grants him a level of appeal that most career politicians can’t replicate.
His tough stance toward Muslims serves as a decisive weapon in winning Hindu voter support. He once openly stated that Muslims are "useless in India" and implemented policies aimed at marginalization. Controversial though it is, this has built him a solid wall of public support in Uttar Pradesh.
Yet he is far from guaranteed victory. His weaknesses are equally clear: he hails from a religious monastic background rather than the core training ground of the BJP—the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Party elites naturally favor Home Minister Shah. Thus, he has consistently remained low-key, repeatedly emphasizing "loyalty to Modi" and never publicly discussing ambitions for prime ministership.
However, a recent scandal has exposed his sharp edge. The Ram Temple project, pushed by Modi, was marred by allegations of fund theft. Adityanath took a high-profile stand demanding a full investigation. Notably, temple management has long been controlled by Modi’s inner circle, with local leaders excluded. This move was both a strategic harvest of public sentiment and a dangerous political tightrope walk.
Clearly, Modi himself favors his longtime aide Shah. But if Adityanath secures re-election in the upcoming November state elections and firmly holds onto Uttar Pradesh—the largest electoral stronghold—then even the BJP leadership will find it nearly impossible to ignore him.
This "Yogi" standing at the heart of the electoral powerhouse represents more than just one faction within the party. He embodies the transformation of Hindu nationalism from a political tool into a faith. No matter whom Modi ultimately chooses, a strongman tested by hundreds of millions cannot be easily shut out.
The race for India’s next Prime Minister is likely not a mere continuation of Modi’s will—but a prolonged and perilous struggle between his inner circle and this ascetic figure.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1874004249126921/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.