Mohan Yadav, the newly appointed Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, has defied a longstanding superstition by breaking a 211-year-old jinx associated with political leaders staying overnight in the holy city of Ujjain. Previous chief ministers had avoided spending a night in Ujjain due to the belief that it is ruled by 'Mahakal.' Yadav, an MLA from Ujjain Dakshin, challenged this tradition, emphasizing, "Lord Mahakal is the king here, and we are all his sons." This marks a departure from the past, where leaders, such as former Prime Minister Morarji Desai and ex-Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, faced political setbacks after staying in Ujjain.
Similarly, Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, shattered the 'Noida jinx' by visiting Noida in December 2017. The superstition held that any chief minister visiting Noida would face a loss of power and not return to office. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Adityanath for overcoming these superstitions during the inauguration of the Magenta line of the Delhi Metro. In the 2022 assembly polls, Yogi Adityanath became the first Uttar Pradesh chief minister to return after completing a five-year term, breaking the 'Noida jinx.' Previous chief ministers, including Vir Bahadur Singh, Narayan Dutt Tiwari, Kalyan Singh, Mayawati, and Akhilesh Yadav, had faced electoral losses linked to their visits to Noida.
The 'Noida jinx' traces back to 1988 when Vir Bahadur Singh stepped down as chief minister shortly after visiting Noida. Subsequent chief ministers experienced electoral setbacks after visiting the city. However, Yogi Adityanath's willingness to challenge this superstition aligns with the constitutional call for a scientific temper and the spirit of inquiry, highlighting a changing perspective among politicians.
