The Warning Bell for Maharashtra from Yogi’s Uttar Pradesh!
Critics of the BJP may resort to the usual rhetoric against Yogi Adityanath—complaining about migrants returning to their home states and dismissing UP’s achievements—but before jumping to conclusions, it is crucial to examine the facts and ground realities. Here are the key points from Yogi’s article and the corresponding developments on the ground:
It has been eight years since “Yogi Raj” began in Uttar Pradesh. On this occasion, an article titled “Making of Viksit UP” by Yogi Adityanath was published today in The Indian Express and likely in most national newspapers. While state governments often publish articles and full-page advertisements glorifying their achievements, Yogi’s article today aligns closely with reports from the ground. The rapid economic and industrial progress of Uttar Pradesh could pose significant challenges for Maharashtra in the future.
Key Takeaways from Yogi Adityanath’s Article:
- From “BIMARU” to Economic Powerhouse:
Uttar Pradesh has shed its “BIMARU” (economically backward) label and is now counted among the fastest-growing states. - Investment and Employment Growth:
Over the past eight years, UP has received investment proposals worth ₹45 lakh crore, of which ₹15 lakh crore (33%) has already materialized, creating 60 lakh local jobs. - Medical Infrastructure:
In 2017, UP had only 12 medical colleges. Today, there are 80 (44 government and 36 private), realizing the “One District, One Medical College” vision. - Sugar Industry and Farmer Payments:
UP is a leading sugar producer with 122 operational sugar mills. In the past eight years, sugarcane farmers have received ₹2,80,223 crore—₹66,703 crore more than the total payments made between 1995 and 2017. - Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs):
The state now hosts 96 lakh SMEs, reducing unemployment from 18% a decade ago to 3% today. - Tourism and Cultural Circuits:
With initiatives like the Ramayana Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Shaktipeeth Circuit, Krishna-Brij Circuit, Bundelkhand Circuit, Mahabharata Circuit, and Jain Circuit, UP has become a major tourist hub, attracting millions and boosting the local economy. - Infrastructure Development:
Major expressways like the Yamuna Expressway and Bundelkhand Expressway were built before traffic demand arose. These developments, coupled with abundant affordable land and a crackdown on crime and extortion, are drawing major industries to UP. - “One District, One Product” and Defense Production:
This initiative is creating localized employment while the Defense Industrial Complex is positioning UP as a leader in defense manufacturing.
The Tiruppur Exodus – A Case in Point:
Last year, thousands of workers from Uttar Pradesh, employed in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruppur textile industry, returned home. Tiruppur, known as the “Dollar City,” exports ₹34,000 crore worth of textiles annually. However, employment opportunities in Ayodhya and other pilgrimage hubs in UP drew 70,000 workers back home, causing a labor crisis in Tiruppur.
The geographical advantage of UP—closer to states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal—further increases its attractiveness as a labor hub. In contrast, Maharashtra may soon experience a decline in migrant workers, affecting its industries.
Maharashtra’s Troubled Industrial Culture:
Maharashtra’s industrial zones are plagued by hidden extortion networks involving politicians, their local henchmen, and complicit officials. Labor unions use intimidation tactics—strikes, violence, and threats—to extort industries. Even regulatory bodies like the Pollution Control Board are weaponized to harass businesses.
Recent examples highlight the extent of this exploitation:
In a Korean steel plant in Mangaon, when the company resisted local politicians’ demands, the police filed false “atrocity” cases against its officials.
A Marathi entrepreneur seeking an MIDC plot for a ₹3,500 crore pharmaceutical project was asked for a 49% partnership by a minister’s emissaries, forcing him to move to Gujarat.
This exploitative environment, combined with political inaction, is driving industries out of Maharashtra.
Why Blame Only Fadnavis?
Critics often point fingers at Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, but the responsibility for industrial reform is collective. Despite his economic and administrative competence, Maharashtra’s political and social decline obstructs meaningful progress.
Maharashtra – A Land of Identity Politics and Declining Purchasing Power:
Once a dominant political and military force, Maharashtra’s local population now relies on migrant labor for nearly every aspect of daily life. Villages sell ancestral land, leading to a new class of landless citizens. The political economy thrives on extorting operational businesses.
Public discourse is dominated by identity grievances rather than substantive policy debates, while social media fuels divisive rhetoric and distractions.
Urgent Need for Leadership Reform:
Maharashtra must rise above caste, regionalism, and party loyalties to cultivate new, inclusive political and spiritual leadership. Otherwise, in the next two decades, industries will continue to migrate to Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, leaving Maharashtra economically barren.
With a B.Sc. in Mathematics, Yogi Adityanath is mounting a serious economic challenge. If Maharashtra fails to wake up soon, decline is inevitable.
