The politics of Uttar Pradesh is constantly in tension. Since the Lok Sabha elections, the rhetoric of the leaders has intensified. Now a game of check-mate is being played to defeat each other in the battle for political supremacy. Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya, who has been distancing himself from cabinet meetings since the election results, has been meeting BJP and allied party leaders regularly these days. A large number of OBC and Dalit leaders were among those who met Keshav. What political message are the BJP allies and government ministers trying to convey by knocking on Deputy CM Keshav Maurya’s door?
CM Yogi held a review meeting of Azamgarh on Monday. In which Subhaspa chief Om Prakash Rajbhar was also invited. Instead of going to the CM’s meeting, Rajbhar went to meet Keshav Maurya at his home in Lucknow. The two leaders met for about half an hour. The next day, on Tuesday, Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad met Deputy CM Keshav Prasad.
Sanjay Nishad met Keshav for the second time in ten days
Sanjay Nishad came to meet Keshav for the second time in the last ten days. Not only this, BJP’s OBC and Dalit leaders have also met Keshav Prasad Maurya at his home. The Deputy CM shared the pictures of all the BJP leaders he met on social media.
Most of the leaders of BJP and allies that Keshav Prasad Maurya has met these days are from the OBC and Dalit communities. Apart from this, the way Keshav has raised questions and sought information about the Yogi government following the rules of reservation in appointments under contract and outsourcing, the motive behind it is not only to gather information but also has a political meaning.
Strategies to break the description of PDA
It is believed that this is the opposition’s strategy to break the narrative of the PDA formula (backward, downtrodden and minority). Also does Keshav Prasad Maurya have any plans to establish himself as an OBC face? In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BJP has received the biggest blow in Uttar Pradesh. Its seats have reduced from 62 to 33. In UP, the BJP managed to win 71 seats in 2014 and 62 seats in 2019, but managed to win only 33 seats in 2024 and suffered a loss of 29 seats.
The biggest reason for BJP’s defeat is the dispersion of OBC and Dalit votes. The Congress-SP alliance has succeeded in breaking the strong social engineering done by the BJP in 2014 by adding non-Yadav OBC and non-Jatav Dalit votes.
Anupriya Patel also started raising the issue of OBCs
The dispersal of OBC votes in the Lok Sabha elections has not only hurt the BJP but also its allies. The result is that Apna Dal (S) president Anupriya Patel is constantly busy raising the issue of OBCs. Writing to CM Yogi, he alleged discrimination in OBC reservation.
It was also said that Dalits are being prevented from getting jobs as they are not qualified, fueling resentment. This should stop. After Anupriya Patel, Sanjay Nishad also besieged the Yogi government on the OBC issue and questioned the bulldozer policy. Not only this, RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary opposed the Yogi government’s decision to write shopkeepers’ names on the Kanwar Yatra route.
Rajbhar and Sanjay Nishad are in harmony
Omprakash Rajbhar and Sanjay Nishad are not only meeting Keshav Prasad Maurya but also matching their tunes. The organization has got the support of all the allied parties regarding the big statement of the government. Given the way Keshav is meeting OBC leaders, it is believed to be a strategy to establish himself as an OBC face.
Political analysts are also of the opinion that Keshav Prasad Maurya has now openly opened his front and is taking every step by which he can strengthen himself in the BJP. Political analysts believe that Keshav Prasad Maurya is currently the biggest OBC leader in the BJP. BJP is on the back foot in 2024 due to the way the OBC and Dalit votes have been fragmented.
Trying to fix social engineering
BJP’s attempt is to redo its social engineering. Because of this, it has been decided to make Bahoran Lal Maurya, who is close to Keshav Maurya, as MLC. This is being seen as a strategy to break the perception that the Yogi government in UP is dominated by upper castes only. Keshav Maurya has taken the lead for this and is busy giving political messages to BJP leaders and associates to create a strong image among the OBCs.
