Before the 2027 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, political activity regarding the Pasi community seems to be intensifying. BJP has made preparations to increase communication with public representatives and officials along with giving representation to influential leaders of the society in the organization and government. At the same time, Samajwadi Party is trying to strengthen its hold in Dalit politics through its PDA (Backward, Dalit and Minority) equation. In such a situation, the political support of Pasi community is considered important for both the parties.
The displeasure of former Union Minister Kaushal Kishore, questions related to the representation of the society and the activism of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regarding the upcoming meeting have brought this issue to the center of discussion in the politics of the state. After the challenge from the PDA equation in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BJP also faces the challenge of maintaining its strong hold among non-Jatav Dalit voters.
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How is the Pasi community mobilizing?
BJP's Uttar Pradesh in-charge Vinod Tawde had called a meeting of public representatives and officials of Pasi community at the party headquarters on October 14. However, this meeting has been postponed for the time being and is now said to be held next week. The objective of the meeting is believed to be to establish dialogue with the representatives of the society and to increase coordination at the organizational level to strengthen caste equations.
Before the assembly elections, BJP is busy strengthening every link of its social equations. Removing the resentment of former Union Minister Kaushal Kishore and maintaining the party's acceptance among the Pasi community are important aspects of this strategy.
Claiming decisive role on 85 seats
After Jatav community, Pasi community is considered to be the community with the largest population among the Scheduled Caste category of Uttar Pradesh. The society has a notable presence in Awadh, Gorakhpur, Kanpur and Kashi regions. According to the assessment of BJP leaders, Pasi community can play a decisive role in about 85 assembly seats of the state, while its political influence is considered to be on about 150 seats. For this reason, the support of Pasi community is important for both BJP and SP. Strengthening the political hold among this community can have an impact not just limited to a few assembly constituencies, but also on the broader Dalit and non-Jatav Dalit equations.
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BJP gave representation to these leaders
BJP has taken several steps in recent times to strengthen its political hold among the Pasi community. The party has made Krishna Paswan a minister in the state government. At the same time, the steps of sending Priyanka Rawat to Rajya Sabha and including Ashok Rawat and Upendra Rawat in the state organization are also being seen as an attempt to give representation to the society. Prominent leaders of Pasi community associated with BJP include the names of former Union Minister Kaushal Kishore, Jaiprakash Rawat, Ashok Rawat, Kamlesh Paswan, Upendra Rawat, Priyanka Rawat and Krishna Paswan. Among these, Kaushal Kishore's displeasure remains a matter of special concern for the party. BJP's strategy seems to be focused on taking influential leaders of the society along, increasing organizational participation and strengthening political confidence before the upcoming elections.
SP has prominent faces from Awadhesh Prasad to Priya Saroj
SP is also continuously active in increasing political influence among the Pasi community. The names of Awadhesh Prasad, RK Choudhary, Priya Saroj, Pushpendra Saroj and Daroga Prasad Saroj have emerged as five SP MPs. Through Faizabad MP Awadhesh Prasad, SP is giving the message of its strong presence in Dalit politics. Apart from this, the party has also kept Inderjit Saroj, RK Chaudhary, Pushpendra Saroj and Priya Saroj in active roles.
SP's strategy is to strengthen the PDA equation and integrate various sections of the Dalit society with itself. The presence of leaders like Avadhesh Prasad gives the party an opportunity to give the message of political representation, while the activism of leaders like Inderjit Saroj and RK Chaudhary is also considered important at the organizational level.
Lok Sabha elections forced BJP to think afresh
BJP had adopted the strategy of strengthening its hold among non-Jatav Dalit voters in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the 2017 and 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. The party also got electoral benefits from this social equation. However, in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, SP's PDA equation has created a new challenge for BJP.
SP tried to bring backward, Dalit and minority classes on one political platform, the effect of which was visible in the electoral equations of the state. In this background, BJP is now again active in strengthening its relations with the Pasi community. The party's effort is to remove the resentment of prominent leaders of the society and strengthen the support base before the upcoming assembly elections by increasing participation in the organization.
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Challenge before BJP, how will SP's PDA be defeated?
The activism of BJP and SP regarding Pasi community in the politics of Uttar Pradesh shows that social representation and caste equation can play an important role in the upcoming assembly elections. BJP has faces like Krishna Paswan, Jaiprakash Rawat, Ashok Rawat and Kamlesh Paswan, while SP is trying to strengthen its political presence through leaders like Awadhesh Prasad, RK Choudhary, Priya Saroj, Pushpendra Saroj, Daroga Prasad Saroj and Inderjit Saroj.
The challenge for BJP is not limited only to giving posts to the leaders, but it is also important to maintain trust among the society and remove resentment. At the same time, SP is trying to convert its PDA equation into permanent political support. Now all eyes are on the proposed meeting of BJP. What is discussed with the representatives of the society in the meeting, what initiative is taken to remove the resentment of Kaushal Kishore and what further steps are taken regarding the participation of Pasi community in the organization, all these questions will remain important in the politics of the state before the 2027 assembly elections.