A renewed OBC outreach in U.P. : THE HINDU EDITORIAL SIMPLIFIED

 A renewed OBC outreach in U.P.

Background

• OBCs form over 40% of Uttar Pradesh’s population, with around 48 caste groups.

• The Centre announced caste enumeration in the 2027 Census.

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Congress Party’s OBC Outreach

Campaign: Bhagidari Nyay Sammelan (Started June 14)

• Month-long campaign to connect with OBCs.

• Aims to highlight:

  • Declining job opportunities for OBCs

  • Importance of caste census and economic survey

• Activities:

  • Conferences across the state

  • Village-level ‘chaupals’

  • District-level marches for raising reservation cap beyond 50%

• Focused castes: Kurmis, Noniyas, Binds, Mauryas, Kushwahas, Rajbhars, Pals, Nishads, Nais, Mallahs, Prajapatis

• Confidence based on success of Rahul Gandhi’s caste census pitch in 2024 elections

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BSP’s Strategy for OBCs

Outreach Approach

• Organising OBC cadre camps across assembly constituencies

• Focus: Extremely backward OBC groups that supported BSP in 1990s–2000s

• Highlighting past welfare measures for OBCs during Mayawati’s rule

Leadership and Past Influence

• Current BSP state president: Vishwanath Pal (OBC - Gadariya community)

• Past OBC leaders: Bhagwat Pal, Dayaram Pal (key in expanding BSP’s OBC support)

Current Challenges

• BSP’s decline: Only 1 seat in 2022 polls, 12.8% vote share

• Trying to regain relevance and counter SP’s dominance in Opposition space

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Samajwadi Party (SP) Moves

Targeted Outreach

• Akhilesh Yadav met Noniya and Rajbhar community leaders

• Promises made:

  • Progressive schemes

  • Statue of Rajbhar icon Maharaja Suheldev in Lucknow

Political Message

• Promoting PDA (Pichhda, Dalits, Alpsankhyak) alliance

• Claims SP’s pressure forced BJP to include caste census in 2027

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BJP’s OBC Push

Political Messaging

• Caste census inclusion seen as social justice move

OBC Representation

• In new district president list:

  • 25 OBC leaders

  • Includes Kurmis (5), Lodhs (2), Mauryas (2), and others like Yadavs, Rajbhars, Pals, etc.

• Kurmis: Significant OBC group (approx. 4% of U.P. population)

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New Political Front

Lok Morcha Launch

• Launched by Swami Prasad Maurya (former minister, OBC leader)

• Coalition of nine small parties led by OBC leaders

• Slogan: "Jiski jitni sankhya bhari, uski utni hissedari" (representation as per population)

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Conclusion

• All major political parties (Congress, BSP, SP, BJP) are aggressively trying to win OBC support ahead of 2027 elections

  By: Shivam Saxena