Demand for Reservation in the Private Sector: AIISCA President Says “Reservation Is Not Charity, It’s the Only Link Connecting Us to the State”
Dalit Organization Launches Nationwide Protest at Press Club, Major Event at Ambedkar Bhawan on October 2 New Delhi. The All India Independent Scheduled Caste Association (AIISCA) held a press conference at the Press Club in Delhi, reiterating its demand for reservation and affirmative action in private employment and private educational institutions. The organization stated that government jobs and government educational institutions are continuously shrinking, while employment, education, and economic power are becoming concentrated in private hands. Therefore, it is essential to extend the system of social justice to the private sector. On this occasion, the organization released a document titled “Reservation in the Private Sector: From Government Jobs to Private Employment, Education, and Economic Power.” The conference was addressed by the organization’s president, Dr. Rahul Sonpimple, Prof. Sumit Mhaskar, Prof. N. Sukumar, and Prof. Sonajharia Minj and student leaders Aishwarya, Ashwini Kumar, Bhomaram, and Ashutosh Vidrohi addressed the gathering. AIISCA Founder President Dr. Rahul Sonpimple stated that reservation in the private sector is “a political issue in every sense” and that it is not a question of today, but dates back to the British era. He cited Dr. Ambedkar’s demand for separate electorates at the Round Table Conference. According to him, the Poona Pact was a contract between India’s emerging modern state and the Scheduled Castes. In this agreement between equal parties, the Scheduled Castes gave up separate electorates and received the promise of reservation in jobs and politics. He also cited the promises made to the tribals (Fifth and Sixth Schedules, autonomy) and the Constituent Assembly debates. He said that just as Jinnah expressed lack of confidence in the demand for a separate country, Ambedkar believed in democracy. He cited Ambedkar’s speech that discussed the contradiction between political equality and socio-economic inequality. Sonpimple asked the gathering whether inequality had decreased, stating that no one could say yes to this. He concluded that when inequality persists, the state’s contract is incomplete. He stated that reservation is not a favor or a charity. According to him, it is the only thread connecting disadvantaged communities and the Indian state, and at the same time, a very fragile one. He alleged that the current government is weakening this thread. He urged social justice advocates to abandon their defense of reservation, as it is their constitutional right. Sonpimple stated that government jobs have declined and sectors like mining are being transferred to private hands. According to him, mining takes place on tribal land, but local tribals are not getting even small jobs. He criticized the slogan “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance” and named the Adani Group as one of the allegations. These allegations are the speaker’s own, without any independent verification. He claimed that the Scheduled Caste population would exceed 200 million in a correct count, and that OBCs constitute approximately 52% of the population according to the Mandal Commission’s estimates. Regarding the caste census, he said it was a victory of the Bahujans’ long struggle that the government had to acknowledge it. He criticized the social media trolling and TV debates surrounding the suicide of an IIT student. He said that dismissing a complaint of caste discrimination if it is filed late is wrong. Referring to the Prime Minister’s claim of being an OBC and the Kalekar Commission, he questioned why the ruling party has not issued any statement on incidents against Dalit and Adivasi students on campuses. He urged Dalit and Adivasi youth not to silently tolerate insults and abuse in the name of “morality” and not to hesitate to respond. He said, “We must not die,” and cited the struggles of his parents. He explained that his father used to drive a cycle rickshaw and his mother was a construction worker. He said that the community is not “just for voting.” He demanded that both the ruling party and the opposition embrace this demand. The bill for reservation in the private sector be discussed and passed in the upcoming winter session of Parliament. In his words, the community will stand with whoever supports this demand. He declared that a new struggle on this issue would begin on Gandhi Jayanti. He linked it to the Poona Pact, saying that the new fight would begin on the day Gandhi “snatched separate electorates from us.” What other speakers said Aishwarya, a research scholar from the Law Department of Delhi University, presented the constitutional and legal aspects. Citing the All India Survey on Higher Education 2023-24, she said that between 2013 and 2023, the number of private universities increased by 149%, while government universities increased by 45%. Referring to disinvestment, outsourcing, and contractualization, he claimed that since 2018, 63 Group A-level positions (Joint Secretaries, Directors, Deputy Directors, etc.) were filled through lateral entry, where reservation was not applicable. In 2024, 45 such positions were withdrawn after protests. According to him, only about 4% of the total workforce is in government employment at most, and accurate figures are not available due to the lack of a census. Citing ILO 2024 estimates, she stated that 88.4% of the workforce is informal. 7.3% of Scheduled Castes and 5.1% of Scheduled Tribes are in formal employment, compared to 16.2% in the unreserved category. Based on her fieldwork, she pointed to undeclared “reservations” in sanitation-related jobs. She cited Article 15(5) of the 93rd Constitutional Amendment (2006), which provides for legislation for backward classes in private (aided and unaided) educational institutions. She noted that Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, and Assam have enacted their own laws. She demanded a central law, fixed category-wise quotas, transparent admissions, and a caste census. Aishwarya said that in August 2025, a Parliamentary Standing Committee recommended a central law to implement Article 15(5) in private higher education institutions, but the Ministry of Education stated that it was within the discretion of the states. He cited a Chennai study that found lower-caste applicants had to submit approximately 20% more applications despite equal qualifications. He also cited the Cisco case in California, ILO Convention
Sons gone, justice still elusive: Two Dalit families in Mumbai and Thoothukudi, holding photographs, ask one question: When will justice be delivered?
Both families believe society’s casteist mindset is responsible for their son’s death, and both believe the culprits are still eluding the law. Mumbai/Thoothukudi—Only parents who have lost a young son can truly understand the pain of losing one. Ravindra and Sonali Wakode sit hungry at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, holding a photograph of their 20-year-old son, Sahil. Sahil was a second-year B.Tech student at IIT Bombay. He committed suicide in his hostel room on September 18th. Ersaan, Chandrashekhar and Tamilselvi in Arumugamangalam, Tamil Nadu, are staging a protest, holding a photograph of their beloved 27-year-old son, Kevin. Kevin was a software engineer who was brutally murdered in Tirunelveli in July 2025, allegedly in a caste-based honor killing. The parents sitting on the protest hold their sons’ photographs and helplessness in their eyes, and they each have one question: will their sons get justice? Along with the grief of losing their sons, they now have to fight for justice. They must seek justice from the same system that Dalit and marginalized families often struggle to achieve. Therefore, whoever extends a helping hand, whether a leader, a commission, or an ordinary person, they see a glimmer of hope that justice may finally be achieved. Kevin’s mother and father tearfully declared that they had lost Kevin and that no other child should suffer the same fate. Sahil’s father said that the fast will continue until the accused are arrested. Two cities, two protests, but the parents’ pain is the same: their sons are gone, and now all that remains is the hope for justice. Parents devastated after chargesheet against son’s murder accused dismissed 27-year-old IT engineer Kevin Selvaganesh was a resident of Arumugamangalam near Eral in Thoothukudi district. He was murdered with a sword-like weapon on July 27, 2025. He belonged to the Scheduled Caste and was in love with a young woman. The young woman’s younger brother, Surjeet, was arrested for the murder. Surjeet surrendered at the police station within hours of the murder. Surjeet’s parents, Saravanan and Krishnakumari, were also accused in the case. Both were in the police force. Krishnakumari was a sub-inspector in the Tamil Nadu Special Police Force and was arrested by the CB-CID nine months after the incident. Following the CB-CID investigation, a lengthy chargesheet was filed in court. This 800-page chargesheet reportedly includes CCTV footage, forensic evidence, and statements from 83 witnesses. The case was being heard in the Special SC/ST Atrocities Prevention Act Court in Tirunelveli. The prosecution alleged that after the incident, Surjeet told his father, and his parents together asked him to destroy his clothes and mobile phone and remove the two-wheeler’s number plate. But on Tuesday, September 29, Justice R. Vijayakumar of the Madras High Court’s Madurai Bench dismissed the charge sheet against Saravanan and Krishnakumari. The court stated that there was no evidence linking them to the crime. Citing a Supreme Court ruling, the court stated that mobile tower information only indicates the range of the tower, not the exact location of the phone. With this order, both were acquitted of the murder charge. However, the court rejected Surjeet’s relative, Jaipal’s, petition seeking to dismiss the charge sheet against him. The court stated that the question of Jaipal’s role in the conspiracy would be decided in the trial. Following the verdict, Kevin’s father, Chandrashekhar, and mother, Tamilselvi, staged a sit-in protest. They sit in front of their house in Arumugamangalam with a picture of Kevin. They sit under a banyan tree in front of the house and say that the charges were dropped due to lack of evidence. Tamilselvi says, “What were we fighting for all this time? The charge sheet has been dismissed citing lack of evidence. If that’s the case, where did we get justice?” The protesting parents questioned how the arrests were made if there was insufficient evidence in the case. They demanded that the CBI continue the investigation and gather more evidence. Tamilselvi said, “Since the people involved in this case are police officers, their role should also be thoroughly investigated. The incidents that we believe led to the destruction of evidence in the case should also be investigated.” She further stated, “We have no personal enmity with anyone. We believe in justice and fairness. We have been fighting solely on the basis of justice. We respect the court’s decision. At the same time, we want accurate answers to our doubts and questions.” Tamilselvi appealed to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to intervene, initiate an appeal on behalf of the government, and take steps for further investigation. She stated that her protest would continue until her questions were answered and her son received justice. The case has also drawn political backlash. VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan called the decision “shocking.” He said that cancelling the charge sheet before the trial began would set a bad precedent. Leaders have reached out to Kevin’s family in the past. Following the incident, Kanimozhi MP and ministers K.N. Nehru and Anitha Radhakrishnan visited the family, and then-Chief Minister M.K. Stalin consoled the parents over the phone. Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu also visited Arumugamangalam to meet the family on the first death anniversary. Sahil’s parents continue their hunger strike at Azad Maidan for the fifth day. Sahil, the 20-year-old son of Ravindra and Sonali Wakode, residents of Yavatmal, was a second-year B.Tech student at IIT Bombay. He was found dead in his hostel room on the evening of September 18th. That same day, he was allegedly caught using ChatGPT on his mobile phone during his mid-semester exam. The parents allege that Sahil had complained about caste discrimination at the institute. Professor Suryanarayan Dulla is named in the police FIR. He has been charged with abetment to suicide. The FIR also mentions caste discrimination. Professor Dulla has been placed on leave to ensure a fair investigation. The institute’s board has formed a 10-member inquiry committee, while the Mumbai Police Crime Branch is investigating the case. The Crime Branch is investigating CCTV recordings
Court takes tough stance in two Dalit harassment cases: Ayodhya court takes tough stance, requires response within one day
The court of Special Judge SC-ST Act Deepak Yadav, located in the Civil Lines court of Ashfaqulla Khan Ward in Ayodhya, has taken a tough stance in two cases of Dalit harassment. The court has sought an explanation from the Circle Officer (CO), Rudauli, for not filing the charge sheet on time. He has been directed to respond within one day. The first case was filed by Holupur resident Arvind Kumar against Deepchand, Ramnaresh, Changu, and Surendra Kumar. The second case was filed by Kalai resident Jaglal Ravidas against Suresh, Sonu, Ramdayal, Sachin, and two unidentified persons. Both cases were investigated by CO Rudauli. The CO stated that the charge sheet could not be filed due to law and order and government work. The court stated that the charge sheet was neither filed on time nor was an application for an extension granted. The deadline for filing a charge sheet in SC-ST Act cases is 60 days. Prashant Shekhar | Civil Lines Courtesy: Hindi News
Riley Gaines vows appeal after judge dismisses NCAA lawsuit over transgender athletes and Title IX claims
Riley Gaines has suffered a legal setback in her lawsuit against the NCAA after a federal judge dismissed the remaining Title IX claims in the case. US District Judge Tiffany R. Johnson ruled that the NCAA could not be treated as a recipient of federal financial assistance, which meant Title IX could not be used against the organisation in this lawsuit. Gaines and the other plaintiffs said they will appeal the decision to the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals. The ruling did not decide whether the NCAA’s former transgender-athlete policy amounted to sex discrimination. Riley Gaines and Tiffany R. Johnson: Why the NCAA lawsuit was dismissed The lawsuit was filed in March 2024 by Gaines and more than a dozen current and former female college athletes. It focused on the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships at Georgia Tech. At that meet, Lia Thomas won the 500-yard freestyle and tied Gaines for fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle. Gaines and the other plaintiffs argued that the NCAA violated their Title IX rights by allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s events and by allowing them to use women’s locker rooms. The case had already been narrowed before Monday’s ruling. Judge Johnson had dismissed several other claims involving Georgia Tech and state officials, while the Title IX claims against the NCAA were allowed to continue. The latest dispute was about federal funding. Gaines and the other athletes argued that the NCAA received federal financial assistance through research work linked to the organisation and the US Department of Defense. Judge Johnson rejected that argument after reviewing the evidence. “Here, there is no evidence that the NCAA ever received, or could have received, federal funds,” Johnson wrote in her order. “Thus, Plaintiffs’ Title IX claims cannot proceed.” The ruling therefore ended the remaining claims at the district court level. It did not decide whether the NCAA’s former policy was discriminatory under Title IX. Riley Gaines plans appeal as Independent Council on Women’s Sports backs case Gaines said the decision would not end her legal challenge. She and her co-plaintiffs have 30 days to file a notice of appeal with the 11th Circuit. “This momentary setback will not deter me or other women athletes in the least,” Gaines said in a statement following the ruling. “Rest assured, we will be appealing this decision. We are on the side of truth. I am confident Americans will rally to our side to fight the NCAA,” she continued. “Working together, we will defeat the NCAA’s continuing efforts to trample women’s rights in sports.” The Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS), which is funding the case, also said it plans to support the appeal. “We believe the district judge erred and that the Court of Appeals will find that the NCAA… is subject to Title IX,” ICONS co-founder Kim Jones said. “We will not give up our fight for women and girls’ rights in sports,” Jones added. The next stage will now move to the 11th Circuit, where Gaines and the other plaintiffs will challenge Judge Johnson’s decision. 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
Bhatti Vikramarka, enraged by Mallikarjun Kharge’s “insult,” called for a nationwide Dalit-Adivasi movement for self-respect.
Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, calling Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s insult a direct attack on Dalit self-respect, warned of a nationwide movement. New Delhi: Calling Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s alleged insult a symbol of the ongoing discrimination against marginalized communities, Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka delivered a strong message on Tuesday. He called for a nationwide movement to protect the dignity and self-respect of Dalits and Adivasis. South Asians and Diaspora Addressing the “Dalit-Adivasi Self-Respect Conference” organized by the Congress SC and ST MPs Forum in New Delhi, Vikramarka emphasized that protecting the Constitution and its core values of equality, liberty, fraternity, and social justice is the paramount responsibility of every citizen of the country. During his address, he recalled that the Congress party had passed the first resolution against untouchability and later played a key role in implementing the Constitution. Targeting the BJP-led central government, he alleged that attempts are being made to weaken constitutional values and promote the ideology of Manusmriti in place of the Constitution. Bhatti stated that the Constitution of India binds every citizen of the country in a strong bond, and violating it directly means weakening the foundation of the nation. He expressed concern that although many stringent laws were enacted during the Congress governments to address discrimination against Dalits and tribals, unfortunately, incidents of discrimination continue to surface in society. Referring to Mallikarjun Kharge’s political stature, he clarified that he is not merely a Dalit leader, but a senior national leader who has achieved high constitutional and political positions through decades of public service. He described the alleged “purification” ritual that followed Kharge’s public meeting in Haldwani as a direct attack on Dalit self-respect. He also strongly criticized the action taken against Rahul Gandhi, who had demanded an FIR in the matter. Questioning the functioning of the system, he said that if someone seeks justice for an insulted person or questions the authorities, they are then sued. He believes this situation fully exposes the deep-seated discrimination against Dalits and tribals within the system. Appealing to Dalits, tribals, and minorities to unite against discrimination, Bhatti sternly stated that we cannot accept a situation where millions of people, including Scheduled Castes, tribals, and minorities, are treated as second-class citizens. He strongly urged everyone to come together and fight to protect their self-respect. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Illegal occupation of a Dalit woman’s plot in Mainpuri: Allegations against powerful people, no action despite complaint; pleads with the Superintendent of Police for help
A Dalit woman in Bewar, Mainpuri, has demanded action from the Superintendent of Police, alleging that her plot has been forcibly occupied and construction has been carried out. The woman says that despite repeated complaints, her complaint has not been heard. Now, she has also appealed to the authorities for the safety of her family. Meena Devi, wife of Rajendra Kumar, a resident of Etawah Road, Bewar, submitted a complaint to the Superintendent of Police, stating that she owns a plot. She alleges that Rajnesh Mishra, his wife Bima, Anubhav Dubey, and Vaibhav Mishra forcibly occupied the plot and began construction there. According to the woman, she complained several times to the Bewar police station, but no action was taken. Victim Rajendra Singh says that he subsequently filed a complaint with the Superintendent of Police. After receiving no relief, he submitted a petition to Cabinet Minister Jaiveer Singh. According to the woman, the minister wrote to the District Magistrate requesting action, but the matter was not heard. In her complaint, the woman alleges that she was turned away on the pretext that the matter pertains to the Bhogaon Assembly constituency. Meena Devi alleges in her complaint that due to political pressure, officials and police were called to refrain from taking action regarding her plot. She also alleged that she was told that the encroachers were relatives of the MLA and that no action should be taken against them. Husband Rajendra Singh, citing his financial situation, stated that his five daughters are marriageable. Amidst financial difficulties, the encroachment on the plot has further exacerbated the family’s difficulties. It is alleged that the encroachers are powerful and cunning, leaving the family terrified. Victim Rajendra Singh has alleged that he and his family have been threatened with death and subjected to caste-based abuse. The victim has demanded that the authorities free the plot from encroachment and ensure the safety of his family. Abhishek Jain | Mainpuri Courtesy: Hindi News
Sahil Wakode death: Global Dalit groups demand accountability from IIT Bombay
The Ambedkar Association of North America (AANA) and a coalition of Dalit and Ambedkarite organisations from North America and Europe have condemned IIT Bombay’s handling of the death of Sahil Wakode, a second-year BTech student from the Scheduled Caste community who died on 18 September 2026, hours after he was removed from an examination. His family has alleged caste-based harassment, and an FIR under the SC/ST Act names an IIT Bombay faculty member. The organisations said IIT Bombay did not wait for the truth and, within a day, publicly stated that Sahil had been caught using ChatGPT in his examination. They argued that an institution whose faculty member was named in an FIR publicly presented its version of a dead student’s conduct before the facts were established, calling it extremely irresponsible and saying it fuelled hostility against Sahil and the SC/ST community. The coalition said the most important questions remain unanswered, including whether examination procedures were properly followed, what happened after Sahil was removed from the hall, what occurred in the Dean’s office, and why examination-hall CCTV was leaked and circulated while footage from the Dean’s office and surrounding areas remains undisclosed. It also criticised the response of the SC/ST Cell and Faculty Forum at IIT Bombay, saying the SC/ST Cell issued statements defending the institution while the investigation was still underway, and that three days after Sahil’s death the Faculty Forum organised a march supporting a faculty member named in the FIR. The organisations added that they had received highly concerning reports of discrimination against SC/ST students following the filing of Sahil’s parents’ complaint at the police station. Demanding action, the organisations said IIT Bombay must retract its premature public characterisation of Sahil’s conduct, apologise to his family, and ensure an independent investigation with SC/ST representation and external experts. They demanded that IIT Bombay and Mumbai Police secure all CCTV footage from the examination hall, surrounding corridors and the Dean’s office, provide it to investigators and Sahil’s family or counsel, and identify those responsible for the leak. They also said the Maharashtra government and Mumbai Police must establish a time-bound Special Investigation Team to fully investigate the allegations against the accused professor and ensure that evidence and witnesses are protected. Central and regulatory authorities must fill vacant SC/ST/OBC faculty positions in IITs and central institutions through a time-bound process and conduct a nationwide audit of SC/ST representation, reservation and PhD admissions, while the NCSC, Maharashtra SC/ST Commission, UGC and Ministry of Education must take suo motu cognizance and institute a nationwide audit of SC/ST students’ experiences, complaints and institutional grievance mechanisms, the statement said. Addressing SC/ST students of IIT Bombay, the organisations said they are not alone and are not on trial. They asked those needing support to contact aanausa@gmail.com and promised to stand with them and protect their identity. By A Representative Courtesy : Counterview Note: This news is originally published on https:/counterview.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Karnataka: Most deleted voters tribals, minorities, Dalits and women, reveals SIR audit
The SIR Opposition Coalition demanded that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign, the SIR process be halted and deleted voters be restored to the rolls. BENGALURU: An SIR audit report released by the SIR Opposition Coalition in Bengaluru on Wednesday, alleged that nomadic and tribal communities, minorities, Dalits, extremely backward communities and women accounted for a disproportionately high number of voters deleted from the electoral rolls or served notices during the SIR process. Speaking at the report release programme at Shasakara Bhavan, Eddelu Karnataka office-bearer Noor Sridhar said field verification had shown that constituencies with a high concentration of minorities, Dalits and tribal communities had witnessed higher deletions. He alleged that several voters had been wrongly categorised as shifted, absent or deceased, and questioned the requirement of linking every voter to the 2002 electoral roll. Retired Supreme Court judge Gopal Gowda questioned the legal basis for the exercise, and alleged that the SIR process was being used to exclude sections of voters. Actor Prakash Raj, director B Suresh, Karnataka Sahitya Akademi chairman Prof LN Mukundaraj, former minister Kimmane Rathnakar and activists were among those present. The coalition demanded that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign, the SIR process be halted and deleted voters be restored to the rolls. It also sought a constitutional mechanism for appointing election commissioners and a scientific, voter-friendly method of electoral-roll revision. It urged the Union government to initiate removal proceedings against Gyanesh Kumar and sought an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the SIR exercise. It also demanded repolling in Bihar and West Bengal. The coalition urged the Karnataka government to convene a special session to discuss alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise, and pass a resolution rejecting the process and rolls generated through it. It sought a social audit to identify voters wrongly deleted and a campaign to restore them to the electoral rolls, and demanded that SIR rolls not be used for any election until all eligible voters are restored. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Murder for not disclosing home address: Pappu was shot five times in quick succession, Jasso and Durga were sentenced by the court.
After 14 years, the court has sentenced two convicts to life imprisonment in the case of Pappu, a Dalit, who was shot five times in Agra for not disclosing his home address. The special SC-ST court has also imposed a fine of ₹1.70 lakh each on Jasso alias Dashrath and Durga. The court has delivered a significant verdict in the case of Pappu, a Dalit, who was shot five times in the head for not disclosing his home address. After 14 years, the special SC-ST court has sentenced two convicts to life imprisonment and a total fine of ₹3.40 lakh. The court of Special Judge SC-ST Act, Shiv Kumar, convicted Jasso alias Dashrath, a resident of village Abhuapura, Achhnera police station, and Durga, a resident of village Gudait, Palwal (Hodal) area, Haryana, and imposed a fine of ₹1.70 lakh each. The case of another accused involved in the crime was separated, while the minor accused, Rahul Kori, was sent to the Juvenile Justice Board. The prosecution presented a total of 11 witnesses, of which the testimony of the deceased’s brother, son, and doctor was crucial. The doctor told the court that five bullets had been removed from the deceased’s body. Meanwhile, Jasso, confessing to the crime before the then-COVID-19 Commissioner Vivek Tripathi, admitted that he, along with his accomplices, had fired bullets from pistols and revolvers when they were not identified. The court found both guilty based on the evidence. What happened? The incident occurred on December 7, 2012. Harichand, a resident of Dawli village under the Malpura police station, told the police that around 5 a.m., two young men arrived at his home on two bikes. They called out to his brother, Pappu, and asked for the address of Babulal Jat’s house. When he refused, they took Pappu to a drain on some pretext and shot him. Hearing the gunshots, Pappu’s son, Shashi, and nephew, Ajay, rushed to the scene and saw Jasso and Durga firing. Upon confrontation, the accused threatened them and fled. Published by: Dhirendra Singh Courtesy: Hindi News
UP: The BJP will have to fight to protect its own vote bank; Akhilesh Yadav’s new caste arithmetic will be a major test.
The BJP will have to fight to protect its own vote bank in the UP Assembly elections. Akhilesh Yadav’s new caste arithmetic will be a major test. The SP will target Brahmins, non-Jatav Dalits, and non-Yadav OBCs. This new strategy by the SP has increased the BJP’s concern. The SP’s strategy now aims to break the social alliance that has helped the BJP win election after election in Uttar Pradesh. After the success of the new caste arithmetic in the Lok Sabha elections, the SP’s strategy is to move beyond its image as a Muslim-Yadav party and give more priority to non-Yadav OBCs, non-Jatav Dalits, and Brahmin communities in ticket distribution. If this segment prioritizes caste over party, as in the Lok Sabha elections, the contest will be interesting. The BJP will face the challenge of maintaining its base vote bank and breaking through this SP’s maze. This new strategy by the SP has increased the BJP’s concern. According to a senior state leader and former state president, the party’s biggest challenge is to re-engage the non-Yadav OBCs and non-Jatav Dalits, a large portion of whom sided with the SP in the last Lok Sabha elections. This segment, which supported the BJP in the 2014, 2019, and the last two assembly elections, no longer displayed its previous commitment to the BJP in the last Lok Sabha elections. Since the SP’s ticket distribution formula for 2024 has been successful, it will not only favor the Kurmi, Nishad, Gurjar, Pal, Saini, Prajapati, and Pasi communities among Dalits to deal a blow to the BJP in the assembly elections, but will also woo Brahmins in eastern UP and Awadh. Therefore, to blunt this SP move, the BJP will have to make a major change in its strategy. What is the SP’s strategy? In the last election, the SP alliance distributed approximately 125 tickets among Muslim Yadavs. This made it easier for the BJP to woo the non-Yadav OBCs. This time, the SP plans to limit the number of tickets for Yadavs and Muslims to 80-85 seats. The plan is to field Dalit candidates in some general seats where the combination of Muslim, Yadav, and Dalit voters can create a formidable position. Furthermore, the plan is to provide bulk tickets to Brahmins among the upper castes, Kurmis and Nishads among the OBCs, and to give greater representation to Sainis, Gurjars, Rajbhars, Pals, and Prajapatis. In the Lok Sabha elections, the SP fielded only five candidates from the Yadav community and four from the Muslim community. Last Election Equation The SP alliance fielded approximately 128 Yadav-Muslim candidates, the same number of non-Yadav OBC candidates, 86 Dalits, and approximately 60 upper caste candidates. The NDA fielded approximately 135 non-Yadav OBC candidates, 15 from the Yadav community, approximately 140 from the upper castes, 85 from the Dalit community, and approximately 30 to 35 from the Vaishya community. Law and order will be a key issue for the BJP. A section within the BJP believes that as the elections approach, the contest will become Yogi versus Akhilesh. This will directly benefit the BJP. For example, in Bihar, the initial situation was against the NDA, but as the election approached, when the contest became Nitish versus Tejashwi, the NDA won a landslide victory on the issue of better law and order. In Uttar Pradesh too, there is a general public support for better law and order. Therefore, the BJP will have to find a counter to the SP’s new social equation with law and order and Hindutva. Himanshu Mishra, New Delhi Published by: Sharukh Khan Courtesy: Hindi News