BJP’s priority in UP: Keep its upper caste votes intact
Amid aggressive outreach by political parties in Uttar Pradesh to woo the numerically strong OBC and dalit vote-bank, the ruling BJP has been wooing the upper caste vote-bank with the same fervour.
Considered as the core vote-bank of the BJP, this vote-bank had, in the past, displayed its dismay with the party by favouring BJP’s opponents and thus denting its prospects. However, feedback reaching the BJP leadership suggests that its upper caste vote-bank is intact and polarisation is one of the key factors for it.
Assembly elections in the state are scheduled in February-March this year.
Taking no chance, the BJP leadership has roped in its upper caste leaders, including from other states, to get personally in touch with influential people from the castes, with the party’s report card.
In UP, upper caste voters are nearly 19 per cent of the total population. The ruling party’s leaders, till the district levels, have been asked to prepare lists of influential people, who are regularly visited by BJP leaders to seek feedback on issues of their concern and suggestions for the party. The BJP Central leadership, including its election incharges, regularly assess the feedback.
A recent meeting of BJP’s Brahmin leaders from the state, including ministers, was held for the same purpose. Brahmins were perceived to be miffed with the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government, leading to induction of Brahmin faces in the state and Central government to assuage the community.
The BJP upper caste leaders have been holding regular “chai pe charcha” with influential people of the communities, with the party’s women leaders highlighting the women centric decisions of the BJP government in both the state and the Centre.