Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh sparked off the perceived "Yogi versus Modi-Shah" war once again with his comment on Monday that " being a leader did not mean that one could mow down anybody with a Fortuner car".

The remarks of Singh -a close confidante of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath -are clearly directed against the Minister of State for Home  Ajay Kumar Mishra Teni and his son Ashish Mishra, accused of having killed four farmers from his running jeep on October 3. Teni is considered close to Home Minister Amit Shah. 

Now, Singh is too much of a light weight to take on the might of Modi and Yogi. Also, the BJP leaders are known to speak in different voices, while pursuing the same political goals. So, it is also possible that the remarks have come with the concurrence of the party's central leadership with the aim of softening the public anger against the BJP ahead of next year's assembly elections.

The BJP leaders have been under immense pressure lately. Leaders of the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha will be converging at Lakhimpur today for a memorial meeting of the four farmers who were crushed to their deaths on October 3.  On Dussehta day, farmers groups have announced plans to burn the effigies of the BJP leaders including those of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and UP Chief minister Yogi Adityanath at different locations across India. From Meerut in Western UP to Jind in Haryana,  BJP leaders have been prevented by agitating farmers groups to address meetings. 

The Modi government - not known to backtrack on issues - has come to face serious challenges this time. With the main accused Ashish Mishra having been sent to three day police remand on Monday, the demands for the dismissal of his father Ajay Mishra have escalated. 

Meanwhile, the UP BJP Chief appears to have provided a handle to the Opposition leaders and farmers groups demanding Teni's dismissal, as his statement is being seen as the first admission of guilt on the part of the BJP.