Hoping 2007 repeat, Mayawati says will field Brahmin candidates in 2027 polls

Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Monday said her party will continue to field Brahmin candidates in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, stepping up outreach to the community while also pitching to other upper-caste groups such as Kshatriyas and Vaishyas.In a post on X, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said the BSP’s move to connect with upper-caste communities, particularly Brahmins, and give them representation in the elections had created “restlessness” among rival parties.“Since the BSP started including upper-caste society, especially Brahmins, and began making them candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections, all opposition parties, especially the SP, are showing anxiety,” she said.Mayawati said this was due to the possibility of the BSP forming a full-majority govt with the support of the Brahmin community, similar to 2007.Mayawati said it was “well-known” that the interests of upper-caste voters, particularly Brahmins, are secure only within the BSP.She cited the party’s practice of appointing constituency in-charges as a step towards finalising candidates and said two Brahmins have been named in that role so far:

Vinod Mishra

in Mungra Badshahpur (Jaunpur) and

Ashish Pandey

in Madhogarh (Jalaun).

Mishra, described as a political switcher who has been associated with the BJP and the

Samajwadi Party

(SP) in the past, and Pandey, a first-time entrant, were projected by Mayawati as evidence of the BSP’s intent to expand its upper-caste representation. She claimed the moves have unsettled rival parties, especially the SP.Positioning the BSP as distinct from its opponents, Mayawati said her party does not indulge in “narrow and self-serving politics” by distributing “lollipops” in the form of freebies and inducements.

Instead, she said, the BSP considers it a constitutional duty to safeguard the welfare of all sections of society, emphasising law and order, crime control and governance as priorities.Recalling the BSP’s 2007 govt, she said Brahmins were given “ample respect and honour” along with participation at multiple levels, while alleging that under other parties they felt neglected, insecure and cheated.Her renewed outreach to Brahmins has been visible since her birthday on Jan 15, when she remarked that Brahmins do not need anyone’s “chokha baati” anymore and are not feeling threatened in Uttar Pradesh. Since then, she has repeatedly raised issues linked to the community, including demanding a ban on an OTT series, “Ghooskhor Pandat,” and questioning the SP’s silence over an alleged derogatory remark by its spokesperson Rajkumar Bhati.Brahmins constitute about 8% of Uttar Pradesh’s upper-caste voters; upper castes together are around 18% of the state’s population.