'Politics is not...’: Adityanath on ambition of becoming Prime Minister

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath

Amid speculation over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s possible retirement, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said he is a “yogi”.

In an interview with PTI, the UP CM was asked about his political ambitions. “Look, I am the Chief Minister of the state, the party has put me here for the people of Uttar Pradesh and politics is not a full-time job for me. At present, we are working here but in reality, I am a Yogi. As long as we are here, we are working... there will be a time limit to this too,” said the CM.

VIDEO | EXCLUSIVE: Here's what Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) said responding to a question regarding a large section of people wanting to see him as the Prime Minister someday:"Look, I am the Chief Minister of the state, the party has put me here for the pic.twitter.com/kTacrrfdaI

Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 1, 2025

His remarks come after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut alleged the RSS, the BJP’s ideological mentor, wanted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to step down by September and make way for new leadership. Raut claimed that PM Modi recently  went to the RSS office in Maharashtra's Nagpur on Sunday to “announce his retirement”. This was PM Modi’s first visit to the RSS headquarters in Nagpur since becoming prime minister 11 years ago.

"PM Modi went to the RSS office to announce his retirement. As per my knowledge, he has never visited the RSS headquarters in 10-11 years. RSS wants change in leadership. PM Modi is now leaving," alleged Raut. "RSS will decide the successor of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and he will be from Maharashtra. That's why Modi was called to Nagpur to discuss it in a close door meeting."

PM Modi, currently serving his third term, turns 75 in September.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also said there was no need to search for PM Modi's  successor. “In our culture, when the father is alive, it is inappropriate to talk about succession. That is Mughal culture. The time has not come to discuss it,” Fadnavis said.

Differences with BJP

When asked about potential differences with the BJP brass, Yogi Adityanath dismissed the notion. "Where does the question of differences come from? After all, I am sitting here because of the party. Can I continue sitting here if I have differences with the central leaders?" the UP Chief Minister said.

Since becoming a Lok Sabha member in 1998, Adityanath has handled various departments like the Committee on Food to the Consultative Committee, the Ministry of Home Affairs, etc over the years. On March 19, 2017, he was sworn in as the Chief Minister of UP and continues to hold the position for the second term.