represented in the Lok Sabha for five terms. And the irony of it all is that every year Adityanath would raise this issue in Parliament, demanding action. These are deaths that take place more in the monsoon – their number has decreased over the years – due to Japanese encephalitis, diarrhoea and pneumonia. But the underlying reasons for the children succumbing to these diseases is undoubtedly widespread malnutrition, and undernutrition amongst women.

However, this time, there was the switching off of the oxygen supply (because of unpaid bills) to children, which made the deaths controversial, particularly with Gorakhpur being the chief minister’s constituency,

It was not just the number of deaths that was shocking. Equally disappointing was the response of the government. The government appeared not to have moved swiftly,for instance, to ensure the immediate restoration of oxygen supply (interrupted because of non-payment of dues), which could have saved lives of other children – and they represent the most vulnerable and voiceless of society. Instead, what followed was a tedious blame game. As for the one of the wider causes of the deaths, child malnutrition, the government’s white paper makes a two-line reference to the panjeeri not reaching the anganwadi centres.

Growing restlessness

Like Modi, Adityanath has also sold dreams to people, which a leader has to do, laying out a vision. But Adityanath does not have the team – and the money – to deliver on the plethora of promises he has made. He made many a promise – 50,000 houses in two months, 1.55 crore toilets by