Lucknow: With the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections still over a year away, political activity in the state has begun to intensify. Kicking off the new year with a fresh political move, the Samajwadi Party (SP) has set the tone for early electoral positioning, triggering renewed debate across political circles.
On January 1, the SP organised a Bati-Chokha feast at its party office in Lucknow, drawing participation from party leaders, workers, and people from various social groups. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav was present at the event and interacted with attendees. Political observers see the programme as a calculated response to the BJP’s recent outreach to the Brahmin community, aimed at reshaping the evolving political narrative.
Senior SP leader Shivpal Yadav, speaking to the media, criticised the BJP for engaging in caste-based politics and invited members of the Brahmin community to join the Samajwadi Party, assuring them of respect and representation within the party.
Caste equations have traditionally played a decisive role in Uttar Pradesh politics. In the 2022 Assembly elections, nearly 89 per cent of Brahmin and 87 per cent of Thakur votes reportedly went to the BJP-led alliance, while the SP-led alliance secured 83 per cent of Yadav and 79 per cent of Muslim votes. Brahmins continue to hold significant influence in governance and organisation, while OBCs and Dalits together form a numerical majority in the state.
Political rhetoric has also escalated. Akhilesh Yadav has reiterated that the SP will form the government in 2027. Countering the claim, BJP spokesperson R.P. Singh said the SP leadership was more concerned about internal defections. SP spokesperson Udayveer Singh and Congress leader Surendra Rajput accused the BJP of misleading the public, while minister Om Prakash Rajbhar maintained that the public remains firmly with the NDA.
As political meetings, community feasts, and sharp exchanges continue, Uttar Pradesh’s political landscape appears set for an extended run-up to the 2027 elections, with caste dynamics once again emerging as a central theme.
