Seen as a snub for Narendra Modi, yoga guru Ramdev says, 'Difficult to say who would be next PM'

In what comes as a shocker from Yoga teacher Ramdev, once a staunch supporter of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he told news agency ANI on Tuesday that it would be difficult to say who will be the next prime minister. “Now the political situation is very difficult. We cannot say who will the next prime minister or who will lead the country, but situation is very interesting...,” Ramdev said in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai International Airport while addressing the media. Ramdev, whose support was considered crucial for the BJP in the previous national election, said he would not support any person or oppose any party in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Asserting that he is not focusing on politics, Ramdev added that his aim was not a Hindu country but a spiritual country. “…And a spiritual world through yoga and Vedic practices, divine practices. We are making a spiritual India, our mission is based on a spiritual India and spiritual world. This is our goal.”

Ramdev was in  Tamil Nadu for a national meeting of his followers that was being organised at the temple town of Rameswaram.

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The 52-year-old Yoga teacher had supported the BJP’s general election campaign in 2014 and was always seen to be closely associated with the party. A year later, he was named BJP-ruled Haryana’s brand ambassador and then granted Cabinet minister rank. He was allotted a car with a beacon, security personnel, and an escort vehicle whenever he visited the state.

As reported by the Indian Express, at Rameswaram, 171 km from Madurai, he told the media that there is a “big fight in politics now”. Repeating his words in Madurai, he said: “I am not opposing or supporting any person or party. But now a political challenge, crisis, and (an) instability I am looking… this is not good for our India.” He added that “who will win and who will lead the country… we cannot say now. (But the) political fight will be interesting.”