Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak Thursday hosted greater than 100 younger Brahmins (‘batuks’) at his official residence right here, seemingly to strengthen his ‘pro-Brahmin’ stance and ship a political message.

As a part of the outreach, a puja was held together with a pushp varshan throughout which flower petals had been showered on the batuks. Later within the day, Pathak and fellow Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya met RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in Lucknow. Yesterday, the sarsanghachalak held a gathering with CM Yogi Adityanath that lasted for almost 35 minutes.

Calling the police motion a “maha paap” (grave sin), Pathak had stated Tuesday throughout an occasion in Lucknow, “Choti pakad kar batukon ko kheenchna bahut galat tha…maha paap.”

(The act of pulling batuks by their hair was extraordinarily improper; a grave sin)

“बटुकों का सम्मान, हमारा सौभाग्य”

आज आवास पर देव स्वरूप छोटे बटुक ब्राह्मणों ने अतिथि स्वरूप पधारकर हमें और हमारे आवास की धराभूमि को धन्य किया है, सभी बटुक ब्राह्मणों का सपत्नीक आत्मीय स्वागत एवं अभिनंदन करते हुए आशीर्वाद प्राप्त किया।

आप सभी के स्नेह, कृपा, और आशीर्वाद से… pic.twitter.com/gnfBFWWIYp

— Brajesh Pathak (@brajeshpathakup) February 19, 2026

“The narrative of Brahmin anger was already there, and the lathi cost on the ‘batuks’ solely intensified it. At such a time, somebody wants to deal with the problem. As an alternative of doing that, the CM raised questions in regards to the Shankaracharya’s title. It is a time to unite Hindus, to not increase such questions. Additionally it is the time to deal with the considerations of Brahmins,” a senior UP BJP functionary seen as near Pathak informed ThePrint.

“Pathak ji has chosen the precise second as he is a well-liked Brahmin face. The excessive command could reward him for this both within the upcoming cupboard growth or after the polls,” the functionary added.

However Brajesh Pathak’s help for Avimukteshwaranand is unlikely to go down effectively with CM Yogi Adityanath who got here below assault from the seer over the administration’s dealing with of the Magh Mela faceoff. Avimukteshwaranand was stopped from continuing for Mauni Amavasya snan in his handheld carriage on account of crowd management measures.

The seer then accused the BJP authorities in Uttar Pradesh of being “anti-Hindu”, whereas his aides termed CM Yogi Adityanath “anti-Brahmin”.

On his half, the chief minister with out taking any names questioned the usage of the title “Shankaracharya” by some. Talking within the state Meeting, he stated not everybody can use the title and burdened that each spiritual decorum and the rule of regulation have to be maintained. He additionally used the time period “Kalanemi” (demon) in one among his statements, focusing on those that he stated take shelter behind faith whereas weakening “Sanatan Dharma”.

Simply weeks earlier than Pathak’s outreach, fellow UP Deputy CM Maurya had brazenly criticised the lathi-charge on Avimukteshwaranand’s shut aides in Prayagraj and requested him to proceed with the Mauni Amavasya snan. In response, Avimukteshwaranand stated Maurya ought to be the chief minister since he understands ‘easy methods to deal with such conditions’.

“Many instances Maurya ji has indicated that get together staff shouldn’t be ignored, that’s the reason he says the organisation is greater than the federal government. If staff start to really feel sidelined, how can the get together anticipate to kind the federal government once more? He solely reminds the federal government to remain heading in the right direction,” a detailed aide of Maurya informed ThePrint, requesting anonymity.

“Simply 11 months are left for elections. There’s a want after all correction; ‘bulldozer’ or lathicharge won’t work in all places,” the aide added.

Political analyst Dr SK Dwivedi, a retired professor from Lucknow College, described the sequence of occasions as a “pure energy tussle”. 

Such variations between the chief minister and his deputies usually are not unusual, he identified. “Nevertheless, with elections approaching, leaders ought to attempt to minimise public variations. Yogi Adityanath is undoubtedly very talked-about, however the central organisation ought to guarantee higher coordination amongst cupboard colleagues. In any other case, it might give the Opposition a chance to boost questions,” Dr Dwivedi informed ThePrint.

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‘Pure energy tussle’ in UP BJP

This, nevertheless, is just not the primary time Yogi Adityanath’s deputies have brazenly undermined the chief minister. In July 2022, Pathak raised questions in regards to the method by which docs had been being transferred inside the state well being division.

Transfers, he stated, weren’t accomplished as per guidelines and specialist docs had been being moved out of necessary locations like Lucknow with out correct replacements.

Provided that Pathak himself is the minister for well being and medical training, his remarks had been seen as criticism of the Chief Minister’s Workplace (CMO). Through the surge in COVID-19 instances in April 2021 too, Pathak had in a letter expressed concern over the scarcity of hospital beds and ambulances, whereas difficult poor administration in Lucknow.

Equally, in 2024, Deputy CM Maurya wrote to the Division of Appointment and Personnel, saying reservation insurance policies ought to be adopted correctly in authorities recruitment accomplished by means of outsourcing or contractual appointments. “Sangathan sarkaar se bada hai (the organisation is greater than the federal government),” Maurya had stated in August 2022 and once more as 2024—a comment seen as a veiled message to Yogi Adityanath. 

Notably, the BJP had contested the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Meeting elections below Maurya’s management since he was the state BJP president.

A BJP chief from Uttar Pradesh, talking on situation of anonymity, informed ThePrint that each Pathak and Maurya benefit from the backing of the BJP’s central management. “They’ll take a special stand when wanted, and generally it turns into crucial,” the BJP chief stated.

Including, “We’ve to maintain our vote base in thoughts and likewise energise get together staff. There may be nothing improper in that however they need to take into account that these points shouldn’t develop into large.

“If there’s a lathicharge on Shankaracharya’s shut aides and it sends a improper message to the Brahmins, then somebody ought to converse up.”

An official within the CMO stated Yogi Adityanath is understood for taking a agency stand on points, which has develop into his distinctive promoting proposition.

“Individuals admire his picture as a robust and strict chief. He has confronted inner challenges up to now as effectively, but he has remained chief minister for over 9 years. That itself exhibits he enjoys the belief of the get together’s excessive command,” the official stated.

(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)

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