Striking Working Style Similarities of Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma & UP CM Yogi Adityanath

There are numerous striking parallels between two senior leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party who rose to prominence and fame due to their uncompromising execution of the party's ideology. 

The two leaders are - Chief Minister of Assam Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.  Political observers around the country cannot help but notice parallels in their governing styles, which are consistent with the ruling establishment's ideology. 

Working Style Similarities of Assam & Uttar Pradesh CM

Both controversial personalities have emerged as important flagbearers of the 'Hindutva' ideology, a Nationalist Right Wing Indian cultural revolution, as some proponents would claim, or a fascist authoritarian philosophy aimed at establishing India a 'Hindu State,' as the opposition would argue. 

Some would say that this comes naturally for the UP CM, a Hindu monk who has a reputation of making outrageous and discriminatory comments against the minority Muslim community.

Since 1998, Yogi has served as the Member of Parliament for the Gorakhpur constituency in Uttar Pradesh for five consecutive terms. After the saffron party won the Vidhan Sabha Assembly elections in 2017, PM Modi unexpectedly named the controversial politician as the Chief Minister of India's most politically relevant state.  

Himanta Biswa Sarma, on the other hand, was a significant figure in both the 2016 and recently concluded 2021 Assam Assembly elections, where he secured the saffron party's win. He was a major contributor to the downfall of the Grand Old Party in Assam, from which he resigned to join the BJP following a spat with Congress National President Rahul Gandhi, assisting the saffron party in gaining power in Assam for the first time in history. Even though there was no CM face in the 2021 Assam Assembly election, there were rumours on who the future CM will be between the then-CM Sarbananda Sonwal and Himanta Biswa sarma. Sarma, on the other hand, emerged as the more popular leader, with overwhelming support from both MLAs and the general public. He was declared the Chief Minister of Assam, which had always been his greatest dream. 

It's strange how a previously loyal Congressman abruptly changed his whole image to become a hardcore Hindutva supporter. This change of stance has been since ever since he assumed office. 

It all began with CM Sarma banning the operation of Madrassas, saying that these government funded religious academic institutions do little than radicalize the minds of young Muslim. He instantly became a star in the eyes of Hindutva proponents with many right wing media outlets showering him with praises. 

Both the Assam and UP CM shares common stance over 'Love Jihad,' which according to both the leaders is real and needs to be addressed urgently. 

Now, Sarma has pledged to adopt a two-child policy in the state, and his colleague from Uttar Pradesh has expressed interest in doing the same.

Assam and Uttar Pradesh governments have introduced legislation to enforce two-child policy in their respective states. Both states aim to bar anyone with more than two children from receiving government benefits or holding government posts. While India lacks a nationwide two-child policy, which China repealed earlier this year, states have developed and implemented their own versions of the rule. Uttar Pradesh and Assam are now planning to join this group of states. 

Sarma has been vocal about the alarming rise of population out of which existing social problems like overpopulation, unemployment and, law and order problems, which he claimes emerges. 

Sarma also asked leaders of the All India United Minority Front (AIUDF) and All Assam Minority Students' Union (AAMSU) to motivate the immigrant Muslim community to adopt a "decent family planning" practice so that Assam does not have to lag on the socio-economic and development front.

The functioning of police forces in their respective states is the second point of comparison between the two leaders. Both Yogi and Sarma have a zero-tolerance attitude toward criminal activity, and the police forces under their leadership have been carrying out operations to sternly deal with anti-social elements, guaranteeing the smooth operation of the law and order situation. 

There have been several incidents of encounters with prominent criminals under Yogi Adityanath, including the infamous and most feared gangster Vikas Dubey, who was slain in police custody as he attempted to flee. On the other side, after becoming CM, Himanta Biswa Sarma has pledged to make Assam one of the safest states in the country. Many drug peddlers, cattle thieves, human traffickers, and other criminals, including fake medics, rapists, and murders, have been arrested by the Assam Police. Many of them were shot while attempting to flee police custody, with one dying as a result of gunshot wounds. 

With these striking ideological and governance parallels between the two chief ministers, only time will tell how far they can both go in terms of remaining committed to their methods of governance and adhering to their principal ideology, which has been a source of motivation and inspiration for both of them, as well as the other leaders, workers and supporters of the saffron regime led by PM Modi, which has emerged as a formidable force and continues to strengthen its roots in the India sub-continent.   

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