UP Elections 2027: BSP eyes Dalit strongholds, Mayawati and Akash to hold rapid public meetings in these districts
Mayawati will hold public meetings in assembly constituencies in districts with a large Scheduled Caste population. The aunt and nephew are particularly focused on Western Uttar Pradesh. Mayawati to hold rapid public meetings with Akash Anand Neha Shukla, Lucknow: Mayawati has fully entered the electoral fray for the 2027 UP elections. This time, Mayawati will be holding public meetings with her nephew Akash. For this, Mayawati is first targeting Dalit strongholds. Mayawati will hold public meetings in assembly constituencies in districts with a high Scheduled Caste (SC) population. The aunt and nephew are particularly focused on Western Uttar Pradesh. The campaign will begin on October 28th in Bulandshahr district. Following this, she is scheduled to hold public meetings in Agra, Saharanpur, Kanpur Nagar, and Ayodhya districts. During the first phase of his campaign, which began in August, Akash Anand visited several assembly constituencies in western Uttar Pradesh, including Sadabad in Hathras and Jewar in Gautam Buddha Nagar. BSP Strong in Western UP The BSP has traditionally been considered strong in western Uttar Pradesh, where Dalit voters have a significant presence. Jatav, Khatik, and Valmiki voters, in particular, constitute a decisive majority in several assembly constituencies in western Uttar Pradesh. Akash has also focused on these areas. Bulandshahr: According to the 2011 census, approximately 19.8% of the total population here belongs to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community. BSP chief Mayawati’s own caste, the Jatav community, is the largest group. Agra: The district has a total of nine assembly seats, of which two seats, Agra Cantt and Agra Reserved, are reserved for SCs. Furthermore, Etmadpur, Fatehabad, Agra North, and Agra South also have a significant Dalit voter base. Saharanpur: Over 22% of the population here belongs to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community. It should be noted that the BSP won the Saharanpur seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Dalits have always been the BSP’s core voter base, with the Jatavs considered among Mayawati’s staunchest supporters. Edited by: Pawan Nautiyal About the Author Pawan Nautiyal works as a consultant writer for the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand sections of the Navbharat Times. He has over 14 years of extensive journalistic experience in print, electronic, and digital media. Courtesy: Hindi News
Akhilesh Yadav’s big bet ahead of the UP elections, saying, “The D of the PDA is through Dalit saints…”
Ahead of the UP Assembly elections, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav is now working to woo Dalit saints as part of his PDA strategy. He will honor several individuals on November 5th. × In view of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the Samajwadi Party has begun to establish its influence across all sections of society. The party is working to woo Dalits, the ‘D’ in the PDA (Backward, Dalit, Minority) formula. Akhilesh Yadav has convened a major meeting of Dalit saints on November 5th. In addition to Uttar Pradesh, Dalit saints from Punjab and Haryana and representatives of organizations associated with Dalit icons will be honored. Akhilesh will also honor the saints. The SP’s strategy is not limited to the BSP’s traditional Dalit vote bank. The party is also targeting social groups associated with the ideology of Saint Ravidas, Kabirpanth, Maharishi Valmiki tradition, and Kanshi Ram-Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar. The party wants to reach different castes and communities through influential saints and organizations within the Dalit community to spread its message. Akhilesh Eyes BSP Vote After the 2022 Assembly elections, Mayawati’s party, the BSP, continued to decline in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The party managed to win only one seat in the 2022 Assembly elections. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the SP-Congress alliance won 43 seats, while the BSP failed to win a single seat. Following the BSP’s weak performance, the SP sees an opportunity to expand its base in Dalit politics. Lok Sabha Gives Opportunity to Dalits Akhilesh Yadav attempted to balance social equations by fielding Dalit candidates in general constituencies like Faizabad and Meerut in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Awadhesh Prasad’s victory in Faizabad was seen as a success of this strategy, while the SP candidate lost in Meerut by a narrow margin. Reaching Out Through Institutions The SP now wants to connect influential figures within the Dalit community with its religious and social networks. The party believes that reaching out to Dalit settlements and various communities can be achieved through connections with saints, sects, and organizations. This will be an attempt to connect with voters who, despite distancing themselves from the BSP, have not yet become permanent SP voters. The BJP is also expanding its reach among the Dalit community through social harmony and saint traditions. On the occasion of the 650th birth anniversary of Saint Guru Ravidas, the BJP is running the “Shri Guru Ravidas Maharaj Samrasata Sankalp Abhiyan” from July 29, 2026, to February 20, 2027. Under this initiative, efforts are being made to strengthen its reach among the Dalit community through the Saint Contact Campaign, Harmony Yatra, Hostel Contact Campaign, and cultural programs. Written By: Nikhil Sahu About the author Nikhil Sahu has been actively involved in journalism in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, for the past eight years. He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He has six years of print media experience, including stints at Dainik Bhaskar, Navbharat Times, 4PM, and Swatantra Print. He has a strong understanding of digital media, with a special focus on political, crime, development, and health news. He has experience in ground-zero reporting. Courtesy: Hindi News
‘Do you eat beef’: Chennai teacher under scanner after Dalit Class X student dies by suicide
COIMBATORE: Peelamedu police have registered a case under three sections against a teacher, the headmaster of a government-aided school and two students in connection with the death by suicide of a Class X Scheduled Caste student on Wednesday night. According to the complaint, the teacher allegedly questioned the student about whether he ate beef. The headmaster was accused of failing to take action over the incident. The case has been registered against all four in connection with the student’s death. Further details about the circumstances leading to the incident and the specific sections invoked were not immediately available. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
INDIA bloc huddle: Leaders to meet virtually on CEC row; SIR irregularities on agenda
NEW DELHI: Leaders of the INDIA bloc will meet through video conferencing on Thursday evening to discuss their strategy over the ongoing row involving chief election commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, sources cited by news agency ANI said, with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge set to chair the meeting. The meeting comes as Opposition parties continue their campaign against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demand accountability from the Election Commission of India (ECI). The opposition has accused the poll panel of facilitating the deletion of eligible voters from electoral rolls and has sought Kumar’s resignation. The Election Commission has maintained that it follows established procedures and defended its role in conducting elections. Opposition steps up campaign against Election Commission The INDIA bloc had earlier announced a joint action plan under its “Save Democracy” campaign. The proposed programme included protests, a march towards the Election Commission headquarters and a rally in New Delhi on November 1. On October 6, INDIA bloc MPs led by Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi marched towards Nirvachan Sadan, the Election Commission’s headquarters, seeking a meeting with the poll panel. Delhi Police stopped the march amid heavy barricading and detained several opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. They were later released. Following the protest, the ECI said Delhi Police had informed it that a delegation of around 240 MPs wanted to meet the Election Commissioners and submit a memorandum at the Parliament House Annexe. The poll panel described the proposed venue and manner of seeking the meeting as “unusual” under its established protocol. Delhi Police said the march had not been granted permission and cited prohibitory orders to explain its action against the protesters. The opposition subsequently approached President Droupadi Murmu. An INDIA bloc delegation, including Rahul Gandhi, Kharge, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and Samajwadi Party representatives, submitted a memorandum outlining its demands on October 9. The memorandum sought Kumar’s resignation, suspension of the SIR exercise, restoration of voters allegedly deleted from electoral rolls and a return to paper ballots. The opposition also called for the repeal of the 2023 law granting immunity to the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners for official duties. Kharge targets immunity law, EVMs On Wednesday, Kharge accused the BJP-led government of undermining democratic institutions and shielding election officials from accountability. He said the opposition’s campaign was aimed at protecting the Constitution and democracy rather than securing electoral gains for any particular party. Kharge criticised Section 16 of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, which grants legal immunity to current and former Election Commissioners for official duties. He argued that the provision protected election officials from accountability and demanded its repeal. “We are asking the BJP to repeal that law. Because you are giving protection to the Election Commissioner and letting him make mistakes. And whatever mistakes have happened today, they happened through Gyanesh Kumar. Why did you give him immunity? It was given so that you can make mistakes through him just by telling him to do so, and forgive him. The Chief Justice doesn’t have immunity. The President of India doesn’t have it. An Election Commissioner does,” Kharge said. He also called for Kumar’s removal, the scrapping of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and a return to paper ballots, while demanding stricter checks on changes to voter lists. “Follow the constitutional system, and remove Gyanesh Kumar, whom you have appointed today. Along with removing him, change the system too. Bring the previous law back, get rid of the EVMs, bring back ballot papers, and the software that sits in one place and controls the whole country. Stop using BLOs to make changes to the voter list,” he said. Kharge also criticised the government’s response to opposition concerns, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah were using ministers and constitutional officials to avoid directly addressing the issues raised by the opposition. INDIA bloc challenges SIR, Jantar Mantar decision At a meeting on October 13, INDIA bloc leaders reiterated their resolve to continue the campaign and said they would challenge the denotification of Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site. Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Kharge, have also approached the Supreme Court challenging aspects of the SIR exercise. On October 15, the Supreme Court issued notices to the Election Commission, Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi on petitions challenging aspects of the revision exercise. The court also agreed to examine the denotification of Jantar Mantar and directed Delhi Police to preserve CCTV footage of the protests amid allegations of excessive force. Thursday’s meeting is expected to focus on the opposition’s strategy in the continuing dispute with the Election Commission, including its demands over the SIR exercise and accountability of the poll panel. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Finding a place to belong’: Sonia Gandhi makes Instagram debut, shares first look of memoir
NEW DELHI: Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi joined Instagram on Thursday and shared the first look of her upcoming memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, which is scheduled for release on November 10. In her first post on the social media platform, the 79-year-old Congress leader expressed gratitude while introducing the book to readers. “Hello everyone, I’m truly grateful to share this moment with you all; the first look of Belonging: A Journey of Love,” she wrote in the caption. “It is a story of love, duty, loss and finding a place to belong. I look forward to sharing it with you,” the post added. The memoir traces Congress MP’s journey from her childhood in post-war Italy to her relationship with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and the personal losses that shaped her life and relationship with India. Memoir revisits childhood, Rajiv Gandhi and family tragedies The book recounts Sonia’s early years in Italy, her romance with Rajiv Gandhi while they were associated with Cambridge, and the assassinations of her mother-in-law, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and her husband. Born in Italy, Sonia Gandhi was 19 when she met Rajiv Gandhi in Cambridge, England, in 1965. The couple married on February 25, 1968. She went on to become the longest-serving president of the Congress party. Her memoir is expected to offer a personal account of love, identity, duty and belonging, alongside her experiences as a member of the Nehru-Gandhi family and her life in India. Rahul Gandhi had earlier expressed excitement about the book. On the 82nd birth anniversary of his father, Rajiv Gandhi, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha wrote that he was proud his mother’s story would reach readers. “I am happy, and so proud, that your story–‘Belonging: A Journey of Love’–will finally be read by the millions of people who love you. I know how hard it was for someone as private as you to tell the world your beautiful story. Today, on his birthday, I can see Papa smiling and looking down proudly at his beautiful Sonia,” Rahul Gandhi said. India edition faces publishing uncertainty The memoir is scheduled to be published internationally by Alfred A Knopf, an imprint of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, on November 10. The announcement was made on August 18. However, the book’s publication in India has faced uncertainty following a disagreement between Penguin Random House India (PRHI) and the author’s representatives over editorial changes. Penguin India said the publication process had reached an “impasse over a particular issue” during its normal editorial review. The publisher said some proposed changes had been accepted, while in other instances it had accepted the author’s position, but an agreement could not be reached on one issue. Penguin India denied that external pressure had influenced the decision and declined to disclose details of the disagreement, citing contractual obligations and author confidentiality. The dispute triggered a political controversy, with Congress leaders alleging that pressure had been exerted to remove sections concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and China’s occupation of Indian territory during the Modi government. Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot described the episode as a “murder of democracy”. Penguin India rejected suggestions of external intervention, saying its review involved the usual editorial processes, including fact-checking and recommendations. Later, HarperCollins India had stepped in to publish the domestic edition, with the book expected to reach Indian readers on the same date as its international release. The status of the India edition had remained a point of contention following Penguin India’s exit from the deal. Former Congress president’s Instagram debut comes ahead of the memoir’s scheduled release, offering readers an early glimpse of the book and its account of her personal journey. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘I’m not a travel agent’: Shashi Tharoor when asked about Rahul Gandhi’s foreign trip
NEW DELHI: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday declined to comment on Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s overseas visit amid protests in New Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, saying, “I am not a travel agent.”“I am not a travel agent. There is no point in asking me that question. Why did I leave Delhi and come here now? Every person has certain responsibilities. So, I cannot comment on that,” Tharoor said when asked about Rahul’s travel plans. Tharoor’s remarks came after the BJP stepped up its criticism of Rahul Gandhi over his alleged foreign trip amid opposition protests in Delhi against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The BJP shared a video on X purportedly showing the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition aboard a flight to Vietnam, saying, “Too tired of spreading lies. Let me tour Vietnam for a while, who would get to know.” BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain also took a swipe at Gandhi, suggesting he needed a break after his activities during the protests. “Rahul ji was very tired. He worked very hard. Sometimes he went to a police station, sometimes he sat inside All India Radio, sometimes he lay down on the road to get his pictures clicked, sometimes he pushed and shoved police personnel, and sometimes he knocked a journalist to the ground. He works so hard that he gets exhausted,” Hussain said. Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit, however, defended Rahul’s right to travel abroad, questioning the BJP’s criticism. “Who travels where and when… what is the issue? Do others not travel abroad? Rahul Gandhi is an individual and the leader of the opposition. He has his duties. He interacts with students at Yale University, meets students in London and engages with intellectuals there. He even gives press interviews, something the Prime Minister does not do,” Dikshit said. He also cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign visits during Parliament sessions, questioning why they had not drawn similar criticism. “We also have a tradition that the Prime Minister does not travel abroad when the Lok Sabha is in session. But our PM broke that tradition. Why does no question arise at that time?” he asked. Rahul has been leading the opposition’s campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the SIR exercise, demanding his resignation. The Election Commission and the BJP have rejected allegations of irregularities in the revision process, accusing Rahul of “spreading lies”. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘We Won’t Let You Study’: Dalit Student Allegedly Assaulted by Classmates in Ghaziabad
Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad have registered an FIR against several students and others after a Class 11 student from a Dalit community was allegedly assaulted by his classmates and subjected to casteist abuse. The student’s father, Mahesh Kumar, 45, a mason, alleged that his son returned home with multiple injuries on October 6 after being beaten by classmates at school. He also claimed that the teenager had faced caste-based harassment for more than a month. According to The Indian Express, Kumar filed a police complaint on October 8. Police registered an FIR on Sunday under provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, along with sections relating to culpable homicide, intentional insult intended to provoke a breach of peace and aggravated criminal intimidation. A senior police officer said, “We have registered an FIR and are investigating the allegations.” Father Alleges Month-Long Caste Harassment Kumar alleged that his son’s classmates repeatedly made casteist remarks against him, including comments such as, “Do you want to be Ambedkar?” and “We won’t let you study.” He claimed that on October 6, as the school day was ending, the students again abused his son before calling several others and assaulting him. “They also called five-seven friends and thrashed my son with kicks and punches and beat him with a belt,” Kumar told The Indian Express. Indianews analysis The father alleged that his son lost consciousness following the assault. Student Struggling to Return to School Kumar said his son was deeply affected by the incident and had attended school only once since the alleged assault. He said the student’s teacher had called him to collect his son after the teenager complained of pain following a couple of hours at school. Kumar also said his son had previously been irregular in attending classes, adding that the teenager had told him his classmates had been harassing him repeatedly. Courtesy : TOP Note: This news is originally published on https:/theobserverpost.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit outfit demands apology from Kumaraswamy over remarks against Priyank Kharge
The Karnataka State Scheduled Caste Right Communities Federation has condemned Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy’s alleged derogatory remarks against Home Minister Priyank Kharge and demanded that he tender a public apology. The Karnataka State Scheduled Caste Right Communities Federation has condemned Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy’s alleged derogatory remarks against Home Minister Priyank Kharge and demanded that he tender a public apology. Addressing a press conference in Kalaburagi city, the federation’s district unit president, Mahadev Mogha, alleged that Mr. Kumaraswamy had made personal remarks targeting Mr. Kharge’s caste identity and questioning the reservation system. Mr. Mogha said the remarks had hurt the sentiments of not only the Scheduled Caste communities but the wider Dalit community. Referring to the constitutional principles of equality and social justice, he said that targeting a public representative based on caste was unacceptable; the issue went beyond party politics and concerned the dignity of the community and the principles of social justice espoused by Dr B.R. Ambedkar. The federation demanded that Mr. Kumaraswamy apologise publicly and urged the authorities to initiate legal action under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, in accordance with the law. Federation members appealed to the Prime Minister to consider action against him in his capacity as Union Minister and Member of Parliament, and urged the Governor to take note of the remarks. Mr. Mogha warned that organisations representing the community would launch protests across the State if Mr. Kumaraswamy failed to apologise. Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehindu.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Muzaffarpur: Violence erupts after youth’s murder, angry mob sets six houses in Dalit settlement on fire
Massive uproar erupts in Muzaffarpur after a 20-year-old man was stabbed to death. An angry mob set fire to the Dalit settlement in Pratappur, with a heavy police presence deployed in the area. Bihar: The murder of a 20-year-old man in Muzaffarpur district has sparked widespread unrest. The incident, which occurred late Saturday night, has created a tense atmosphere in the area. The deceased has been identified as Navneet Kumar, a resident of Mohammadpur Khaje village in the Karja police station area. Navneet was reportedly attending a local fair with his friend Subhash Kumar when he was stabbed at the fair, resulting in his death. When Navneet’s body arrived at his native village after the post-mortem, villagers were enraged. One of the suspects in the murder is said to be from the nearby Pratappur village (a Dalit settlement), prompting the mob to attack the settlement. The attackers not only brutally assaulted the residents of the settlement but also set at least six houses belonging to Scheduled Castes on fire. There are allegations that they fired in the air to spread terror, although the police have not confirmed the incident. Residents of the settlement had to flee to save their lives. Ganesh Ram, a resident of Pratappur village, said that the deceased Navneet had a dispute with Gajendra Ram’s son, who was involved in the illegal liquor trade. He said that a mob of more than 50 people launched a planned attack on the Dalit settlement in protest of the murder. Upon receiving information about the fire, fire engines arrived at the scene and tried to control the fire. According to Ganesh Ram, by the time the fire engines arrived, the houses had been completely destroyed. Given the seriousness of the incident, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kantesh Kumar Mishra, Rural Superintendent of Police (SP) Rajesh Singh Prabhakar, and City Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohibullah Ansari arrived at the scene to assess the situation. SSP Mishra stated that additional armed police forces have been deployed in the village to prevent any untoward incident. According to the SSP, the situation in the village is currently tense but is completely under the administration’s control. He also clarified that the deceased and the suspect belong to different castes and that the situation is being closely monitored following the murder. Issuing a stern warning to those who take the law into their own hands, the SSP said that the local police station in-charge has been instructed to take immediate action against the culprits. Currently, a special police team led by Saraiya SDPO Abhijeet Kaur is camping in the village. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
UP: Dalit youth beaten, held hostage, and threatened with death for worshipping at Ballia’s Kali temple
A shameful incident in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh: A Dalit youth was held hostage and beaten for living and performing puja at the Kali temple in Sardapur village. An FIR has been filed against two accused under the SC/ST Act. Uttar Pradesh: A shameful case of caste discrimination has come to light in Ballia district. A Dalit man was brutally beaten simply because he lived at a local Kali temple and performed daily puja there. Following this inhumane incident, the police took immediate action and filed an FIR against two accused under serious sections on Monday, October 19th. The entire incident took place in Sardapur village. The victim, Nageena Ram, is a native of the village and has been living in the Kali temple premises for a long time, performing pujas as per his faith. According to the complaint, on Sunday evening, October 18th, two young men began misbehaving with him without any provocation. It is alleged that these men hurled vulgar insults at Nagina Ram, referring to his caste, and violently assaulted him for staying in the temple. During the assault, when villagers working in nearby fields heard the noise and ran to the temple for help, the accused locked Nagina Ram inside the temple premises and held him hostage. The rampage of these miscreants did not end there. They then went straight to the victim’s home and openly threatened to kill him in front of his entire family. Given the seriousness and sensitivity of the matter, action was taken on the complaint at the Rasra police station late Sunday night. Rasra police station in-charge Sushil Kumar confirmed the incident and said that a named FIR has been registered against Vishal Singh and Ankit Singh based on Nagina Ram’s complaint. The police have registered a case against the two accused under stringent provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Station House Officer Sushil Kumar clarified that a police team is currently investigating the entire incident thoroughly and gathering evidence. He assured the victim’s family that any necessary legal action will be taken with full force and without any pressure. The administration is closely monitoring the situation to ensure peace and law and order is maintained in the village. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News