The Bharatiya Janata Party’s surprising decision on Sunday evening to appoint Hindutva hardliner Yogi Adityanath as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh left many Indians speechless. But not those on Twitter. Shortly after the news was announced, stunned users of the social media site began to post ironic messages, taking comfort in black humour.

After the party was voted into power in India’s largest state with an overwhelming mandate, winning 312 seats in the 403-member house, many expected it to appoint a government that would calm the fears of minorities. Though Muslims make up around 18% of the population of Uttar Pradesh, the BJP did not field a single member of the community in the elections. The choice of Adityanath dashes those hopes.

The mahant of Gorakhnath temple , Adityanath is noted for his rhetoric attacking Muslims. He has several criminal cases pending against him. The charges include attempt to murder, criminal intimidation, rioting, promoting enmity between different groups and defiling place of worship.

To some, this was a warning about how easily Indians have come to accept hate speech.

But others suggested, tongue firmly in cheek, that there could be more to come.

And of course, BJP members, such as member of Parliament Swapan Dasgupta, couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about.

Author Chetan Bhagat, meanwhile, left everyone guessing about what he really thinks about the situation.