3 faces, 60 seats, one demand, how are the alliance partners putting pressure on BJP in UP?

There are assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh next year in 2027. Bharatiya Janata Party is in government in the state since 2017. BJP, despite having less seats, gives a strong share in power to its alliance partners. In the year 2022, BJP’s allies also performed well. BJP has 3 allies in Purvanchal, who are already pressurizing for more seats.

The three big faces of the NDA alliance in UP are from eastern Uttar Pradesh. Purvanchal is dependent on the politics of Om Prakash Rajbhar, Sanjay Nishad and Anupriya Patel. All three are strong faces in their respective political strongholds, in whose names votes are cast. The politics of all three political parties, Nishad Party, Suhaldev Bharatiya Samaj Party and Apna Dal (S), is based on caste.

All three have already started preparations for the 2027 assembly elections. Let us understand how the three leaders are pressurizing BJP for more seats.

Also read: Three Rajput leaders of Purvanchal reached OP Rajbhar’s door, what is the meaning?

What is Sanjay Nishad doing?

Sanjay Nishad is the President of Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamar Aam Dal. This party is known as Nishad Party. Nishad Party has its hold in Purvanchal. Now he wants more seats in the alliance. Sanjay Nishad is demanding reservation for Nishad youth. He is emphasizing on the areas adjacent to Ganga and Yamuna where Nishad voters are in a strong position. That’s why he is sometimes going to Maharajganj, sometimes to Gorakhpur, sometimes to Ballia and sometimes to Meerut and the districts of western Uttar Pradesh.

What is the strength of Nishad community?

Sanjay Nishad is visiting only those areas where Nishads are in majority. The Nishad or Mallah community is mostly settled on the banks of rivers. Sanjay Nishad claims that the population of Nishad community in Uttar Pradesh is 9 percent, although in government figures it is said to be only a little more than 2 percent. He is demanding his right on more seats.

On which districts is Sanjay Nishad emphasizing?

In Uttar Pradesh, people of Nishad, Kevat and Mallah communities are mostly settled on the banks of rivers. Boating and fishing are their important professions. The districts of Purvanchal and Central UP are considered to be the main strongholds of this community. Nishad is in a decisive position in Gorakhpur, Sant Kabirnagar, Deoria, Ballia, Ghazipur, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Jaunpur and Bhadohi. Nishads are also strong in Kanpur, Mirzapur and Sultanpur. Sanjay Nishad is a big leader of this community.

Also read: ‘Justice to daughters, SC status to Nishads…,’ Sanjay Nishad will make it difficult for BJP

How many seats is Sanjay Nishad asking for?

Nishad Party has 6 seats out of 403 assembly seats in UP Assembly. Assembly elections are going to be held in the year 2027. He has demanded 40 seats in a public meeting in Noida.

What is Om Prakash Rajbhar doing?

Om Prakash Rajbhar, President, Suhaldev Bharatiya Samaj Party:-
We are four allies of Bharatiya Janata Party. Sanjay Nishad, Anupriya Patel, Jayant Chaudhary and Ek Hum Hain. There is no fight between us regarding seat sharing, the fight is about forming the government. All four of us will shoulder and one behind. Will definitely take you to the ghat.

On which districts is Om Prakash Rajbhar emphasizing?

Om Prakash Rajbhar’s stance is currently different from Sanjay Nishad. Rajbhar community is in a strong position in UP. This is a powerful community in Purvanchal. Rajbhar is in a strong position in Ghazipur, Mau, Ballia, Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Varanasi, Deoria and Ambedkar Nagar.

This community is dominant in about 60 to 120 assembly seats in the state. Their population is in a position to decide victory or defeat on about 25-30 seats. In many areas of Purvanchal, their vote bank ranges from 12 percent to 20 percent. Be it Samajwadi Party or BJP, every party wants to form an alliance with Om Prakash Rajbhar.

What is Om Prakash Rajbhar doing?

Om Prakash Rajbhar has already sounded the bugle for the 2027 assembly elections. The party had won 6 seats in the 2022 assembly elections. Now Om Prakash Rajbhar’s claim was once on 62 seats, now he wants to stake claim on all the 10 seats of Azamgarh. Om Prakash Rajbhar himself has indicated to contest elections from Atraulia seat of Azamgarh and has also submitted a claim for his son. His strategy is mainly on uniting the backward and extremely backward classes. He has also formed his own ‘Rashtriya Suheldev Sena’. They are dreaming bigger election dreams than Savdhaan Yatra. He has also contested Bihar Assembly elections separately from the NDA alliance. UP is their stronghold.

Also read: ‘Had fun for 4 years, now remembered my sisters and daughters…’, Why are people angry at Sanjay Nishad?

What is Anupriya Patel doing?

Anupriya Patel is the leader of Apna Dal-S. She remains in the news every day by raising issues like OBC reservation, increasing the limit of creamy layer and caste census for the 2027 assembly elections. His grip is strong. She also wants to increase her party’s participation in Panchayat and civic elections at the local level to expand the organization. Anupriya Patel is trying to get maximum seats.

What is the strength of Kurmi community?

Kurmi community is in a powerful position in Uttar Pradesh. This community is in a decisive position in districts like Mirzapur, Prayagraj, Bareilly, Pilibhit, Bahraich, Shravasti, Siddharthnagar, Basti, Kanpur and Fatehpur. This population decides victory and defeat. There are Kurmi voters in about 35 to 45 assembly seats in the state. There are about 41 MLAs from Kurmi community in the UP Assembly.

Kurmi community in UP is about 6 percent. Seeing this strength, BJP has handed over the command of UP to Union Minister Pankaj Chaudhary. With Anupriya Patel on its side, NDA is in a stronger position. Both BJP and Samajwadi Party are trying to tap this vote bank.

How many seats does Anupriya Patel want to contest?

Anupriya Patel’s claim is strong. By contesting elections on 17 seats, his party had won 12 seats in the year 2022. Now she wants to contest elections on double the seats. These alliance partners are continuously increasing pressure for BJP.