Breaking the 'Noida jinx' - Will Akhilesh Yadav's visit change the political discourse?

Akhilesh Yadav is visiting Noida after 11 long years. 'Noida jinx' is an old political taboo in Uttar Pradesh politics, which believes if a sitting chief minister visits Noida, he will not be able to hold power for long

Pic courtesy: ANI (file photo)

Lucknow: This is an interesting development ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls that starts on February 10. In a significant development, Akhilesh Yadav is visiting Noida today (February 3) evening. This will be his Noida visit after a long gap of 11 years. Now the big question is whether Akhilesh's visit to Noida for the poll campaign will prove to be a masterstroke. 

Earlier on Thursday, speaking to ANI in Bulandshahr, the SP chief said, "There is another saying related to Noida is that if a party goes for the campaign in Noida then it wins the Uttar Pradesh elections. Last time, I visited Noida in 2011 and then formed the government in 2012." Akhilesh said that he is sure that his visit to Noida will also help him in forming the government in 2022. 

What is the 'Noida jinx' all about?

'Noida jinx' is an old political taboo in Uttar Pradesh politics, according to which, if a sitting chief minister visits Noida, then he cannot hold power for long and will not be in power for another consecutive term. However, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has broken the taboo and tends to visit Noida continuously after forming the government in 2017. 

Yogi Adityanath, during the poll campaign in Noida for the upcoming elections earlier this month, had said that, unlike the previous governments, he was constantly visiting Noida and doing development work. He had said that he is sure that people will support and give their mandate to BJP. "Noida jinx" came into existence in Uttar Pradesh politics since the time of Vir Bahadur Singh as he lost the election after Noida visit. Further, ND Tiwari, Kalyan Singh and Mayawati's government also lost after their Noida visit. It is believed that Akhilesh Yadav was too scared of 'Noida jinx' that during the whole tenure of his government he did not visit Noida for a single time and not even held a campaign for the 2017 Assembly polls and 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Noida.

Notably, Akhilesh Yadav did not even visit Noida for the inauguration of development projects during his tenure. The Uttar Pradesh assembly election for the 403 assembly seats would be held in seven phases from February 10 to March 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.