Brahmin vote bank’s growing relevance in UP politics

Both SP and BSP have been quite vocal in their pursuit of the significant Brahmin vote

NEW DELHI: It seems the climax of two decades of Backward Class politics in Uttar Pradesh is the search for a Brahmin vote bank.

In the last month or so, BSP and SP have been quite vocal in their pursuit of the significant Brahmin vote, said to be 12% of voters in Uttar Pradesh.

“Brahmins have always been important in UP politics, because of numerical strength in at least 20 Lok Sabha seats and important positions held in society.

After reservations democratised this space, Brahmins are being seen as an add-on to a Backward class led coalition,” says Dr Badri Narayan, professor at the Govind Ballabh Pant Social Science Institute in Allahabad. He says that this not only means an inversion of the previous Congress combination of Brahmins, Dalits and Muslims but also the marginalisation of Brahmins.

Not many agree with this characterisation. BJP spokesman Sudhanshu Trivedi says, “I wouldn’t call that marginalisation but a realisation that a chunk of this vote is required for dominating UP politics.”

SP’s strategic shift has been most interesting to watch. After co-opting a large part of the Thakur vote in the state, it has set its sights on the Brahmin vote as well.

A stance against reservation in promotions has put it in a position of embarrassing BSP, which is seen as primarily concerned with Dalit vote bank. SP national secretary Rajesh Dixit does not deny that Brahmins have become important especially after the nature of the 2012 mandate.

“SP follows Lohiaite politics, where caste is irrelevant. Therefore, why should we not talk to everyone,” he says. UP politics has moved beyond traditional caste alliances and the Mandal-Mandir matrix. A Backward Class led alliance with Brahmins riding tailcoat appears to be the future.