CM felicitates winners of various competitions, while guests unveiled the book Atulniya Atal Ji.

Lucknow, Aug 2025 : Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said Atal Bihari Vajpayee, born in a humble family, believed in karma, turned politics into a medium of service, and left his mark with innovation in every field he touched. Calling it Uttar Pradesh’s good fortune that Bateshwar in Agra was Vajpayee’s ancestral land, he recalled that the former PM pursued higher education in Kanpur and began his political journey from Balrampur,

Addressing party workers on the occasion of a memorial tribute and poetry congregation marking the 7th death anniversary of former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the values and ideals upheld by the founders of the Jan Sangh and BJP will continue to guide the party as a blend of service and nationalism.

The CM honoured winners of various competitions on the occasion, while guests released the book Atulniya Atal Ji. Padma Shri poet Surendra Sharma captivated the audience with his verses, and CM Yogi also recalled and quoted Vajpayee’s poetry in his address.

CM Yogi Adityanath said Atal Bihari Vajpayee was elected to Parliament from Lucknow five times, served 10 terms in the Lok Sabha, two in the Rajya Sabha, and three as Prime Minister, giving the nation glorious leadership. He added that the state government has reached out to the very sections of society Vajpayee cared for, establishing Atal Residential Schools in all 18 divisions, where 18,000 children of workers are receiving modern facilities. The CM said anyone wishing to see a model of education must visit the Atal Residential School in Lucknow.

CM Yogi Adityanath said that while disparities once plagued Uttar Pradesh, the past eight years have witnessed revolutionary progress in medical education. Recalling Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s first death anniversary, he noted that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled Vajpayee’s statue at Lok Bhavan, Lucknow, he also laid the foundation of the state’s first medical university in Vajpayee’s name, with all 80 medical colleges now affiliated to it.

The CM said Uttar Pradesh, once considered ‘Bimaru’ in health, economy, and development, is today curing every illness — a transformation made possible through the inspiration of great personalities like Atal Ji.

CM Yogi said the state government is committed to preserving Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s legacy. He noted that the UP Cabinet has recently approved a scheme under which five students will be sent to Britain every year for higher education, with half of their scholarship funded by the state. The scholarship has been dedicated in Vajpayee’s name. Marking his birth centenary year, the CM added, various programmes are being organised across the state.

Extending Janmashtami greetings, CM Yogi Adityanath said Lord Krishna inspired the world with the message of karma, delivering spiritual discourse even on the battlefield. He added that Atal Bihari Vajpayee too inspired through his poetry, and many issues the BJP is implementing today were once ridiculed as impossible.

CM Yogi Adityanath recalled that Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee had declared there could not be two Prime Ministers, two symbols, and two constitutions in one country — a resolve fulfilled under Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the abrogation of Article 370. He said when the Jan Sangh and later the BJP raised issues rooted in India’s values and ideals, they were often ridiculed. In 1989, when the BJP highlighted the Ram Janmabhoomi issue at its convention, critics claimed the party had strayed from real concerns. Yet, Yogi said, the leadership remained steadfast, and today, after 500 years, a grand Ram Mandir is taking shape in Ayodhya.

On this occasion, Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya, BJP State President Chaudhary Bhupendra Singh, Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Dinesh Sharma, Amarpal Maurya, Cabinet Minister Swatantra Dev Singh, Omprakash Rajbhar, Dara Singh Chauhan, Mayor Sushma Kharkwal, MLC Mahendra Singh, Ramchandra Pradhan, Umesh Dwivedi, Pawan Singh Chauhan, Govind Narayan Shukla, Mukesh Sharma, Lalji Prasad Nirmal, Engg. Avneesh Singh, MLA Jayadevi, Amresh Kumar, Yogesh Shukla, Padma Shri Malini Awasthi, BJP District President Vijay Maurya, Metropolitan President Anand Dwivedi and others were also present.

Winners honoured by the Chief Minister
Atal Kavya Ganga Competition:

1st – Priyanshi Singh,

2nd – Vinay Mohan Shukla,

3rd – Muskan Verma

Essay Writing:

1st – Ranu Nishad,

2nd – Khushboo Yadav,

3rd – Payal Pandey,

4th – Anshuman Kapoor