A remark said by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in his message to voters just before the first phase of the UP Assembly polls has put him on the defensive. Adityanath said that Uttar Pradesh will become Kerala, Bengal or Kashmir if the voters make a mistake. Sane people are not able to understand what the UP Chief Minister really meant by this reference. When he says that UP will become Kerala, Bengal or Kashmir if the right to vote is not exercised carefully, he seems to think that something is going on in these three states which is not conducive to democracy and culture. Yogi's reference should be seen only as a hallucination that seems natural when one deliberately turns a blind eye to the world outside his empire. However, one should not overlook the poisonous conspiracy behind it. Of course, there are political reasons why Yogi and his party, who are fighting for the second term, do not like Kerala and Bengal. Yogi's party did not win a single seat in the Kerala Legislative Assembly in the last election. In the 2016 elections, for the first time in the history of Kerala, the BJP got at least one nominal representation in the Assembly. In Bengal, the BJP was forced to remain as opposition as it managed to win only 77 seats in the assembly elections. Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress won the elections handsomely and remained in power for the third consecutive term. Yogi's disappointment is evident from his remark.

Did Yogi intend that Kerala, West Bengal and Kashmir were uninhabitable states through his controversial remark? In any case, Kerala is a state that has long earned the reputation of being the most peaceful state in the country. Kerala is at the forefront of growth and development. Kerala has the highest literacy rate, education and medical facilities, the lowest infant mortality rate and the best governance in the country. The atmosphere of religious harmony here has also garnered praise from all over the country. Yogi should not have sought votes by insulting Kerala, which is acclaimed even globally in all aspects of social life.

It is commendable that the whole of Kerala, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, came forward to give an immediate response to the Yogi's abuse. There is no doubt that not only the people of UP but also the people of other states want to become like Kerala. This reality can also be politically intimidating to people like Yogi.

Leaders will show their ability to attract voters. However, it is important to realise that words gone out of the mouth will stay in the air and may even backfire. The words of Yogi Adityanath about Kerala does not come anywhere near the sanctity of the saffron that he wears. He should apologize to the people of Kerala for this insulting remark.