New Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh's new CM Yogi Adityanath is not just a popular choice among BJP's 325 legislators, but also commands a giant following in eastern UP.



Here are a few interesting facts about the Yogi turned politician.



Tryst with politics Yogi's tryst with politics began in 1996, when he was named in-charge of managing the election campaign for Mahant Avaidyanath. In 1998, when Avaidyanath retired from active politics, he declared Yogi as his heir apparent, and also the nominee for the next Lok Sabha polls.



Vrihad Hindu card Even though he remained the torchbearer of the Hindu cause, Yogi also played the 'Vrihad Hindu' card attempting, consciously, to widen his popularity base not just among the core Hindu voters, but also reaching out to the nearly disenfranchised Dalit community.

Head priest of the Gorakhnath temple A long-time BJP MP from Gorakhpur, Yogi Adityanath is also the head priest of the Gorakhnath temple in the eastern UP city of Gorakhpur.



Adityanath has been winning the Gorakhpur seat in UP since 1998; at 26, he was the youngest MP in the 12th Lok Sabha.