Before the 2027 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified its efforts to create caste equations in the organization. BJP has released the list of in-charges for 403 assembly seats in the state. There is talk of giving responsibility to 128 Brahmins in this list. People from Thakur, Vaishya, Bhumihar and Kayastha communities have also got a place. At the same time, the question of relatively less participation of backward and Dalit classes is being raised. The appointments of assembly in-charges are being linked to the strategy of strengthening their hold among the upper caste voters and maintaining social balance in the organization.
Political implications are being drawn from the prominence given to Brahmin community in this list of BJP. This step of the party is considered important amid discussions of resentment among a section of the upper caste society regarding reservation, University Grants Commission guidelines and other issues. The challenge before BJP is to retain its traditional upper caste supporters and not let its political hold weaken even among the backward and Dalit classes.
The role of Brahmin voters in the politics of the state has been important in many assembly constituencies. In such a situation, giving them responsibility in the organization is being considered a part of the party's social strategy. However, on the basis of appointments it cannot be said that the entire Brahmin community or any other section is angry with any party. Voters' attitudes are also influenced by local issues, candidates and the functioning of the government. Among the assembly in-charges, maximum responsibility has been given to former district officials. Only one former MLA, Munshilal Gautam, has been included in the list, who has been given the responsibility of Jewar assembly constituency. This indicates that the party has also expressed confidence in officials having organizational experience.
Responsibility for 35 Brahmins in Awadh, 24 in Gorakhpur
From the point of view of organization, BJP has divided Uttar Pradesh into six regions and 98 organizational districts. A different picture of caste representation has emerged in the region-wise list of assembly in-charges. In the 82 assembly seats of Awadh region, there is mention of 35 Brahmins and 17 Kshatriya community people being made in-charges. The capital Lucknow also falls in this region.
At the same time, there is information that in 62 assembly seats of Gorakhpur region, 24 Brahmins and 15 Kshatriya community people have been given responsibility. Out of 71 assembly seats of Kashi region, people of Brahmin community have been made in-charge of 21 seats. There is also mention of giving responsibility of nine seats to Thakur community and 11 seats to Other Backward Classes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi falls in this region, hence the political importance of Kashi is different.
People from Brahmin community have been given the responsibility on 18 posts in 65 assembly seats of Braj region. Apart from this, information has come to light that 10 Kshatriya, six Jat and five Lodh community people have been made in-charge. Braj plays an important role in keeping an eye on politically important areas like Mathura-Vrindavan, Bareilly, Agra and Kannauj.
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Emphasis on Jat, Gurjar and Kshatriya equation in Western UP
The picture of BJP's strategy in western Uttar Pradesh appears somewhat different. Here the equations of Jat, Gurjar, Kshatriya, Brahmin, Dalit and Muslim voters influence the election results on many seats. In the 71 assembly seats of the western region, 13 Kshatriyas, 12 Jats, nine Gurjars, seven Vaishyas and four Brahmin community people have been made assembly in-charges. It is clear from this that there is a difference in representation in different areas according to local social equations.
Farmer politics, local leadership and caste equations are important parts of the election strategy in western UP. In such a situation, it may be important for the party to keep regional influence in mind while distributing responsibilities in the organization. On the other hand, the figures of Brahmin community getting more responsibility in Awadh and Gorakhpur are also in discussion.
New appointments in 98 districts to solve Dalit equation
Apart from the list of assembly in-charges, BJP's Scheduled Caste Morcha has also made appointments at the organizational level. Morcha state president and MP Ashok Rawat has released the list of presidents of 98 organizational districts. In the region-wise details, 19 district presidents of West region, 18 of Braj region, 16 of Kanpur region, 15 of Awadh region, 16 of Kashi region and 14 of Gorakhpur region are mentioned. Their total number is 98. In terms of caste representation, Valmiki and Jatav communities have been given place in the western region. There is information about people of Diwakar and Katheriya community getting responsibility in Braj region. Representatives of Kori, Pasi and Sonkar communities have been given place in Kashi region. People of Paswan community have also been entrusted with the responsibility in Gorakhpur area.
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The real test of caste equations will be in 2027
Before the 2027 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, BJP faces the challenge of strengthening the organization and maintaining social balance. While the party is giving the message of giving representation to Brahmins and other upper castes, it also wants to maintain its hold among the Dalits and backward classes. On the other hand, the Samajwadi Party has been emphasizing on its PDA i.e. Backward, Dalit and Minority equation. In such a situation, the organizational appointments of BJP are also being seen in comparison to the social strategy of the opposition.
However, the list of assembly in-charges and caste-wise representation in itself is not a guarantee of election victory. Ticket distribution, coordination among local leaders, acceptability of candidates, development issues and impact of government functioning will also be decisive in the elections. Now the biggest question is how much BJP is able to convert this stake of caste representation in the organization into votes in the 2027 elections.