By Pradeep Kapoor
LUCKNOW: BJP high command is unnerved by the caste based meetings held recently being considered direct threat to Hindutva philosophy of the saffron brigade. The meetings by powerful Thakur community followed by kurmi and lodh backwards and brahmins in near future have made it clear they want to bargain for better adjustment in the government, party organisation and forthcoming polls for panchayats, MLC and Rajya sabha.
The initiative was taken by thakur community when ministers, MPs and MLAs and MLCs met under the name of Kutumbh parivar. The political commentators were surprised the meeting of powerful Ministers MLAs and MLCs belonging to thakur community held in a hotel discussed the political issues and their probable strategy. The very next day there was another meeting of thakur community which was also attended by thakur MLAs expelled by Samajwadi Party.
These meetings are being interpreted as the strong message to party high command that they would accept any change in leadership in UP. There is no doubt that CM Yogi Adityanath enjoys the full support of thakur community in the state. So much so the opposition has levelled charges against UP CM for giving position in governance to the persons belonging to thakur community.
It would be worth mentioning here that thakur community plays important role in 23 Lok Sabha and 94 UP Assembly seats. After thakur community, kurmi backwards in BJP also organised meeting under the banner of Sardar Patel Vaicharik Manch attended by powerful ministers, MPs MLAs and officers.
It is significant that powerful kurmi minister Swatantra Dev Singh is serious claimant for state BJP President. During last assembly polls in 2022, Swatantra Dev Singh was claimant for the post of Deputy CM but he was ignored.
With its 10 percent presence in state population, powerful kurmi backward community people play important role in 30 Lok Sabha and 160 assembly seats. Out of total 38kurmi MLAs, BJP has 34 while four belongs to Samajwadi Party.
Similarly cabinet Minister Dharam Pal Singh organised a big meeting of lodh backward community to celebrate Avanti Bai Jayanti at his Aonla constituency which was attended by MPs, MLAs and office-bearers of BJP. Significantly Dharampal Singh is also a serious claimant for the post of state BJP president.
It may be mentioned that Lodh community has presence in 12 Lok Sabha seats and 70 Assembly seats. Out of three MPs from this community, two are from BJP while one from Samajwadi Party.
At a time when Samajwadi Party is strengthening at grass-root by organising PDA (backward dalits and minorities) such caste based meetings in BJP will dilute the call of Hindutva which attempt to bring all castes together in the name of religion. (IPA Service)
