Yogi navigates BJP through quota minefield as HC order opens Pandora’s box

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath

BJP in Uttar Pradesh is grappling with a major political challenge ahead of the upcoming by-elections for 10 assembly seats, following a recent Allahabad high court ruling that has reignited the contentious issue of job reservations.

The court's decision, which mandates the state government to release a fresh selection list for the recruitment of 69,000 assistant teachers, has placed the BJP on the defensive, providing the opposition with a powerful tool to attack the ruling party.

The court ruling comes at a time when the BJP is already navigating sensitive issues related to employment and reservation, areas that have historically been pivotal in shaping electoral outcomes in the state. The ruling has not only stirred concerns among those directly affected—teachers who have already secured jobs—but has also sparked a broader political debate, with the opposition seizing the opportunity to corner the BJP.

A Political Hot Potato

The Allahabad high court's Lucknow Bench, in its recent judgment, ordered the Uttar Pradesh government to prepare a fresh list of selected candidates for the recruitment of 69,000 assistant teachers. The court's decision set aside the previous selection lists issued on June 1, 2020, and January 5, 2022, which were found to have violated reservation policies. The new list, the court directed, must be prepared within three months, adhering strictly to the rules laid out in the 1981 Rules and the 1994 Reservation Act.

This ruling stems from a series of petitions filed by candidates who argued that the reservation quotas were not correctly implemented during the recruitment process. Specifically, the petitioners contended that nearly 19,000 reserved category candidates who scored above the general category cutoff were not placed in the general category, as required by law. Instead, they were appointed under the reserved category, thereby denying opportunities to other eligible reserved category candidates.

The court’s order to revise the selection list has created a wave of anxiety among the teaching community, especially those from the general category, who fear losing their jobs. Reports suggest that the ruling could affect between 6,000 to 7,000 general category teachers, adding fuel to the already simmering discontent.

Opposition’s Offensive

Sensing a golden opportunity, the Samajwadi Party (SP), under the leadership of Akhilesh Yadav, has launched an aggressive campaign against the BJP. Yadav has been quick to position the SP as the defender of the affected candidates, promising to fight for their rights and ensure that the court's ruling is implemented fairly. This issue, Yadav argues, highlights the BJP’s failure to protect the interests of the marginalized and downtrodden, a narrative that the SP hopes will resonate with voters in the upcoming by-elections and beyond.

The SP's strategy is clear: keep the teacher recruitment issue alive and at the forefront of the electoral discourse. By doing so, the party aims to galvanize support among those who feel betrayed by the BJP's handling of job reservations. This strategy is particularly potent given the BJP's cautious approach to reservation-related issues, an area where the SP has historically enjoyed strong support.

Akhilesh Yadav’s rhetoric has been sharp, accusing the BJP of playing with the futures of thousands of young people. He has also pointed to the BJP's failure to manage the fallout from the court's ruling as indicative of broader governance issues, arguing that the ruling party is more concerned with political survival than with justice and fairness.

BJP’s Dilemma

The BJP now finds itself in a precarious position as it seeks to mitigate the political damage caused by the court ruling. The party is acutely aware of the electoral implications of the issue, especially given that jobs and reservations were central to the SP’s success in the last Lok Sabha elections, where it won 37 seats. With the by-elections drawing near, the BJP is under immense pressure to resolve the issue quickly and prevent it from becoming a long-term liability.

In an attempt to manage the crisis, the state government has initiated damage control measures. A high-level meeting was convened on Sunday, involving key officials from the education department and chaired by chief minister Yogi Adityanath. During the meeting, Adityanath emphasized that no candidate should face injustice and that the benefits of reservation should be extended to all eligible candidates. The Basic Education Department has been instructed to proceed in accordance with the hIGH cOURT’S order and to prepare the new selection list within the stipulated three months.

However, the government’s response has been met with skepticism, both from the opposition and from within the BJP’s own ranks. Some party insiders fear that the issue could spiral out of control, particularly if the revised selection list results in significant job losses among those who are currently employed. The BJP’s leadership is also wary of taking a definitive stance on the issue, given the potential for backlash from various voter groups.

Road to 2027

As the by-elections approach, the BJP’s handling of the teacher recruitment issue could have far-reaching implications for its political future in Uttar Pradesh. The opposition, particularly the SP, is likely to keep the pressure on, using the issue as a rallying point to mobilize support. For the BJP, the challenge will be to defuse the situation without alienating key voter bases, all while maintaining its narrative of good governance and development.

The teacher recruitment controversy, therefore, is not just a legal or administrative issue—it is a political flashpoint that could influence the broader electoral landscape in Uttar Pradesh, not only in the immediate by-elections but also in the run-up to the 2027 state elections. As the BJP navigates this minefield, its ability to manage the fallout will be a critical test of its political acumen and its capacity to retain its hold on the state’s electorate.