BJP leader Yogi Adityanath (centre) is offered sweets after he was elected as Uttar Pradesh chief minister during the party lawmakers’ meeting in Lucknow on Saturday. Photo: ReutersLucknow: A five-term Lok Sabha member of Parliament (MP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJ) leader Yogi Adityanath is a fiery Hindutva mascot who has developed a reputation of being controversy’s favourite child over a period of time. The district magistrate had made it clear that Adityanath should not visit the site as it may inflame tensions. Adityanath is the Mahant (head priest) of the Gorakhnath Mutt, a Hindu temple in Gorakhpur, following the death of his spiritual “father,” Mahant Avaidyanath in September 2014. Yogi Adityanath comes from a Rajput family.

Source: Mint March 18, 2017 15:33 UTC