Yogi shines in BJP's Tripura sweep

Lucknow, dhns: The massive victory for the BJP in Tripura Assembly polls would add to the rising stature of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath within the saffron party.

Adityanath, who is also the 'mahant' (chief) of the famous Gorakshnath Peeth at Gorakhpur, about 300 km from here, had campaigned extensively in the north-eastern state.

He had addressed as many as seven election meetings in Tripura besides holding two road shows to seek votes for his party.

As there is sizable number of people, who are followers of the 'Nath' monastic group of which the Gorakhnath Temple is the headquarters, Adityanath had campaigned in the areas dominated by them.

According to sources, Adityanath had campaigned in 20 of the 59 assembly constituencies in Tripura, where polling was held. "Of them, the BJP has emerged victorious in 17," said a senior BJP leader here on Saturday.

The leader said the results of Tripura showed that the UP chief minister was able to win the support of the followers of the 'Nath' monastic group.

Adityanath, who was in Gorakhpur, hailed the victory and termed it "historical". "It's a historic day for the party...we were able to oust a government that had been in power for 25 years," he said.

Adityanath had also campaigned extensively for the saffron party in last year's assembly polls in Gujarat.