The BJP has often been accused of weaponising the kamandal by mixing religion and politics. But the companion of the sages has its limitations, and guns are guns, Yogi Adityanath has shown.

Chief minister Adityanath’s revolver worth Rs 1 lakh and rifle worth Rs 80,000 have survived his status as one of the most protected persons in Uttar Pradesh.

The two lethal — and indisputably worldly — possessions are mentioned in the affidavit the 49-year-old monk declared before the Election Commission on Friday. “Adityanath” (that is how he has mentioned his name, without the “Yogi” prefix) is contesting the Assembly polls from Gorakhpur Urban.

The weapons have been with him since 2004, according to earlier affidavits. Evidently, Adityanath, who had faced several unholy charges in his political career, feels safer with the personal guns despite enjoying Z-plus security since March 2017 that entitles him to protection by 55 personnel, including commandos.

Asked about the guns in 2014, Adityanath, mahant of the Gorakshnath temple in Gorakhpur, had said sanyasis are trained in shaastra (scriptures) and shastra (weapons). He could not resist adding: “You have the maala and the bhaala (prayer beads and the spear).”

The BJP leader’s cash savings have risen by Rs 58 lakh in the last four-and-a-half years of his stint as Uttar Pradesh chief minister.

The affidavit says he has Rs 1.54 crore in his bank accounts. When he filed his nomination in September 2017 for the Legislative Council elections, Adityanath had declared Rs 95.98 lakh in his bank accounts.

The rise is possibly accounted for by his salary: Rs 3.65 lakh per month with a take-home component of Rs 2.55 lakh.

He did not declare any vehicles or immovable wealth. He had, however, declared three SUVs (a Tata Safari, an Innova and a Fortuner) and a bank balance of Rs 72.17 lakh in 2014, when he contested the Lok Sabha election from Gorakhpur. In 2017, he had an Innova and a Fortuner.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, Adityanath’s main rival this election, has in his affidavit declared movable and immovable assets worth Rs 25.65 crore. Apart from land and houses, he has Rs 8.43 crore in cash, mobile phones and exercise equipment. His wife Dimple Yadav has assets of Rs 14 crore.

Akhilesh is contesting from the Karhal seat in Mainpuri district.