The shocking results of the by-election in Bihar’s Bankipur assembly constituency have now shaken the political landscape of Uttar Pradesh. This single election result has forced all political parties to rethink their caste equations, particularly the Brahmin and upper caste vote banks, and to alter their strategies.
It is believed in political circles that the resentment and anger generated within the Brahmin community following the Bharat Tiwari encounter was the primary reason for the defeat of BJP veteran Nitin Naveen in his traditional seat of Bankipur. The direct impact of this entire incident is now clearly visible in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh.
Akhilesh Yadav played the Brahmin card in Lucknow.
Samajwadi Party National President Akhilesh Yadav was in full form at a major event held in Lucknow on Wednesday to mark the birth anniversary of socialist thinker Janeshwar Mishra. He openly played the Brahmin card, making a major political move. Speaking from the stage, Akhilesh Yadav clearly stated that the “P” in his party’s “PDA” formula simply stands for “Pandit.” He directly accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of harassing Brahmins.
Referring to the much-talked-about Vikas Dubey encounter in Kanpur, he quipped that if satellite images of that incident were released, it would reveal who actually caused the car to overturn. He also mentioned Gorakhpur, saying that the government there doesn’t even tolerate a Brahmin’s “house.”
Issues from Prayagraj to Gorakhpur were made weapons.
Akhilesh Yadav directly linked the controversy surrounding Shankaracharya’s return from Prayagraj without bathing and the beating of the students there to the insult to the entire Brahmin community. He also took aim at Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak and Cabinet Minister Manoj Pandey, who left the Samajwadi Party and joined the BJP.
Through this political attack, he sought to send a strong message to the upper class and the Brahmin community that these Brahmin figures in the government are not their true well-wishers. Referring to an incident in Kushinagar, the SP chief alleged that some people there were forced to bathe before being allowed to meet him. He also brought to public attention the alleged disrespectful treatment meted out to teachers in Gorakhpur.
BJP cornered in the name of Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Akhilesh Yadav didn’t stop there, he also pointed out that the BJP hasn’t done any significant work on the ground in the name of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He sarcastically said that the government has only installed his statue in the Lok Bhavan, which was built during the Samajwadi Party government.
Referring to the so-called cultural attacks on Pandits and Sanatan culture, he claimed that controversial films about this community were even made during this government’s tenure. Linking his party’s policies to Sanatan traditions, he said that appointing Mata Prasad Pandey as Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly is a true show of respect to the Brahmin community.
Told himself the true bearer of Sanatani traditions
The SP chief tried his best to portray himself as the true bearer of Sanatan Dharma and its traditions. He said that in our great Sanatan traditions, no receipts are issued for offerings and donations to God, but in today’s times, BJP members are demanding receipts for everything.
Taking aim at the state’s Deputy Chief Minister, Keshav Prasad Maurya, he even said that he even has a Deputy Chief Minister who has committed a “receipt scam.” While only time will tell how much Akhilesh Yadav’s “Pandit in the PDA” strategy appeals to the Brahmin community and what impact it will have on the upcoming assembly elections, this new political equation has certainly raised the political temperature.