Purvanchal showdown: Caste-based alliances battle for supremacy in high-stakes election

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress State President Ajay Rai are vying for Varanasi, while Apna Dal's Anupriya Patel is contesting from Mirzapur, and SBSP's Arvind Rajbhar from Ghosi.

As the election juggernaut rolls down to eastern Uttar Pradesh, also known as Purvanchal, the dynamics of alliances are set to be put to the test. Both the India Alliance and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) are pulling out all the stops to secure a victory in this critical region.

The prestige of regional allies such as Suheldeo Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), Nishad Party, and Apna Dal, key components of the NDA alliance, is on the line. These parties, which claim to represent various communities, assert their influence across different regions of the state.

“BJP has intelligently weaved a social engineering umbrella where it has given representation to the leaders of these caste groups in the central as well as the state governments. Its alliance with Rajbhar, Kurmi, and Nishad communities, as well as their sub-castes, is stronger as compared to 2019,” said Nomita P Kumar of Giri Institute of Development Studies.

NISHAD Party's president Sanjay Nishad claims to represent approximately 54% of the marginalized population, extending from Kanpur and Kannauj to Gorakhpur and Gazipur. Within this demographic, communities such as Sachan, Verma, Katiyar, and Kurmi hold significant sway.

To manage coalition dynamics, the BJP recently allocated a legislative council seat to Om Prakash Rajbhar and fielded him from the Ghosi Lok Sabha constituency, also nominating his son Arvind Rajbhar. Sanjay Nishad, a cabinet minister, has his son contesting from Sant Kabir Nagar constituency. Another son holds a legislative assembly position. Apna Dal (S)'s leader, Anupriya Patel, secured a central ministry while her husband, Ashish Patel, became a cabinet minister in the state.

Compared to other allies, the BJP has offered a larger share of seats to Apna Dal (S), including Mirzapur and Robertsganj. Anupriya's previous victories on these seats have significantly bolstered the BJP's position in Purvanchal, Bundelkhand, and Rohilkhand regions.

The INDIA Bloc, comprising SP, Congress, and TMC, faces significant challenges. The Mahan Dal, previously aligned with the INDIA Bloc, parted ways after SP gave a ticket to tainted Babu Ram Kushwaha from Jaunpur.

NDA's Targeted Campaigns

The NDA has launched a series of targeted campaigns across Purvanchal. The BJP has innovated with initiatives such as the Women's Conference in Varanasi and a new model of voter outreach. The party has compiled block-wise lists of beneficiaries of government schemes like Jal Jeevan Mission, housing, and sanitation projects to engage with voters and reinforce the benefits delivered by the NDA government.

In a detailed strategy, each assembly constituency has been divided into three to four segments, with senior leaders conducting meetings in each segment. Additionally, specialized group meetings are being held with professionals such as doctors, engineers, textile traders, and pharmacists. Leaders in these sectors are tasked with engaging their peers to garner support.

A significant focus has been placed on backward classes. BJP's Backward Class Kashi region General Secretary Subhash Kushwaha stated that Yadav leaders from Etawah, Etah, Farrukhabad, and Mainpuri have been deployed in Varanasi and surrounding areas. Similarly, in regions dominated by the Nishad community, leaders from this community are spearheading the campaign.

India Alliance's Counter Strategy

The India Alliance is adopting a meticulous approach on the 27 seats. Congress and SP have strategically placed office bearers of their frontal organizations on these seats. A dedicated team monitors BJP's public meetings and prepares responses for their leaders.

Congress has applied the Rae Bareli-Amethi model, dividing assembly constituencies into sectors and assigning leaders of the predominant community to manage each booth. Both Congress and SP are emphasizing leadership from castes beyond Yadav and Muslims to diversify their appeal.

Congress state in-charge Avinash Pandey is overseeing the Brahmin-dominated areas, coordinating meetings between SP and Congress leaders during the day and hosting night chaupals. Dr. Rajpal Kashyap, State President of SP Backward Class Cell, is similarly engaged with the Nishad, Kashyap, and Bind communities, highlighting SP’s strategic placement of five candidates from the Nishad community.

High-Profile Contenders

This electoral phase sees many prominent figures contesting on 14 seats in the sixth phase and 13 in the seventh. Among them are Maneka Gandhi from Sultanpur, Dharmendra Yadav from Azamgarh, Laliteshpati Tripathi of Trinamool Congress from Bhadohi, Ujjwal Raman Singh from Allahabad, and former Maharashtra Home Minister Kripashankar Singh from Jaunpur.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress State President Ajay Rai are vying for Varanasi, while Apna Dal's Anupriya Patel is contesting from Mirzapur, and SBSP's Arvind Rajbhar from Ghosi. The Nishad Party also holds significant influence in this region.

“As Purvanchal heads into the crucial sixth phase of elections, the political stakes are higher than ever. With alliances being tested and every party deploying its top strategies and candidates, the outcome here will play a decisive role in the overall electoral results. Both the NDA and India Alliance are leaving no stone unturned to secure a win in this politically vital region,” Ramesh Kumar Singh, a local journalist in Varanasi said.