Uttar Pradesh, March 13: BJP’s strategic political move to appoint Nayab Singh Saini as the Chief Minister of Haryana is touted to be aimed at hitting multiple targets with one action. Saini, belonging to Other Backward Caste (OBC), holds significant influence in North India, especially alongside fellow community members Maurya and Kushwaha.
With this move, experts believe that the ruling party is eyeing not only Haryana but also Uttar Pradesh, anticipating a ripple effect in the April-May Lok Sabha elections in the populous state.
As Uttar Pradesh sends the highest number of MPs to Lok Sabha, positioning leaders from backward castes may help the BJP consolidate its support base among the OBC voters, a tactic previously employed in Madhya Pradesh by appointing Mohan Yadav as the Chief Minister.
With the elevation of OBC leaders (Nayab Singh Saini and Mohan Yadav) in Haryana and Madhya Pradesh, the ruling party aims to send a strong message to the Shakya, Saini, Maurya, and Kushwaha communities.
BJP’s focus on aggressive backward politics in Uttar Pradesh is expected to translate into a substantial increase in its vote share in the Lok Sabha polls. The move also signals a departure from the traditional emphasis on Jat politics in Haryana, with the BJP aiming to attract OBC voters in North India.
Uttar Pradesh, with its 52 per cent OBC voter base, presents a critical electoral battleground for the BJP, which currently has 62 MPs from the state, including bigwigs such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
The OBC voters in the state are divided into Yadav and non-Yadav categories, with Kurmi voters being the second-largest group after Yadavs. The Maurya, Kushwaha, and Lodh castes also play a crucial role in the OBC voter dynamics.
The BJP is strategically leveraging its influence in the border areas of Uttar Pradesh, where communities like Sharkya, Saini, Lodh, and Kushwaha are prominent.Similar to the success achieved by changing faces in Madhya Pradesh with Mohan Yadav, the deployment of Nayab Singh Saini is expected to enhance the party’s political calculations in Uttar Pradesh.
Speaking about the OBC push ahead of Lok Sabha polls, BJP spokesperson Sameer Singh emphasised the party’s commitment to uplifting the Dalit and most-backward communities. Singh also highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s advocacy for the empowerment of OBC segments, expressing confidence that the BJP’s efforts will positively impact the electoral landscape in Uttar Pradesh.
“In Uttar Pradesh, the party and government have already uplifted the OBC segment and its effect will certainly be evident. More than electoral benefits, it is about giving representation to such ignored communities, which is only possible in the BJP,” Singh said.
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