Archive · 7 Aug 2026
UP Governor Flags Lapses in Yogi's Gorakhpur; Akhilesh Yadav Swipes
The governor of Uttar Pradesh, a big state in India, went to a university in the city of Gorakhpur.
She was there for a big ceremony where students get their degrees.
While she was there, she noticed some problems at the university.
The boys' hostels did not have a dining area, so food was brought in boxes called tiffins.
She thought the food was not good enough and asked officials to test food samples.
She also said that drugs had been found in almost every state university she had visited, which made her worried.
The governor reminded everyone that Gorakhpur is where the Chief Minister lives, so it should set a good example.
She told officials to fix the problems within three months.
The leader of the opposition party made jokes on social media about the government because of her words.
The university said it had already started fixing the problems and hoped to solve most of them within a week.
Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel flagged poor hostel, mess, food quality, Wi-Fi, power and hygiene lapses at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University during its 45th convocation ceremony.
Patel noted boys' hostels lack mess facilities while girls' hostels have them, ordered testing of food samples, and sent a separate set to Lucknow to prevent sample switching.
She said narcotic substances had been found at nearly all state universities she has visited — with only four remaining — and warned that food delivered in tiffins could also bring drugs into hostels.
Referring to Gorakhpur as the home of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, she asked that all deficiencies be rectified within three months.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged BJP corruption and infighting, saying the 'double engine' government has become a 'trouble engine'.
- Who
- Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel (chancellor of the state's universities), Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and Vice-Chancellor Poonam Tandon.
- What
- The Governor flagged hostel, food, connectivity and alleged drug-use deficiencies at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University and demanded fixes within three months.
- When
- During the university's 45th convocation ceremony on Thursday; Akhilesh Yadav responded on X on August 7, 2026.
- Where
- Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.
- Why
- Gorakhpur is Adityanath's political and spiritual base, making the remarks politically significant a year before state Assembly polls.
Criticism as accountability
Criticism as political attack
Who is responsible for campus deficiencies
Criticism as accountability
The Governor's criticism is justified: the administration must fix mess, food quality, Wi-Fi, power and hygiene issues within three months, especially in the Chief Minister's home city.
Criticism as political attack
The university says students themselves resisted mess services because an estimated Rs 100 per day (about Rs 3,000 a month) was unaffordable, and that government-funded renovation is already underway, with most issues to be resolved within a week.
Political meaning of the remarks
Criticism as accountability
Akhilesh Yadav says the remarks expose alleged BJP corruption and infighting, turning the 'double engine' into a 'trouble engine'.
Criticism as political attack
As chancellor, the Governor says she was fulfilling her duty by pointing out shortcomings and speaks 'as a mother' concerned for students' welfare, not for political reasons.
- Governor
- Anandiben Patel
- University
- Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University
- Hostels
- 9 hostels — 6 for boys, 3 for girls
- Convocation
- 45th convocation ceremony
- Deadline set
- Three months to fix deficiencies
- CM's connection
- Gorakhpur is Adityanath's parliamentary base for five terms and home of Gorakhnath Math
- University response
- Most issues to be resolved within a week, per Vice-Chancellor Poonam Tandon
- Renovation
- Nearly 75-year-old university undergoing renovation with government funding
