Political Tensions Rise Among BJP Legislators in Uttar Pradesh

Tensions are escalating within the BJP in Uttar Pradesh as Brahmin legislators convene to address concerns over representation and internal power dynamics. Following a meeting that raised eyebrows, the party's leadership is now under scrutiny for its handling of caste-based gatherings. With the assembly elections approaching in 2027, the BJP faces challenges from both within and outside, as opposition parties seek to capitalize on perceived discontent among upper-caste voters. This article delves into the implications of these developments and the potential impact on the BJP's electoral prospects.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 29, 2025, 17:06 IST

Recent Developments in BJP's Brahmin Legislators Meeting

On December 23, a meeting of BJP's Brahmin legislators took place in Lucknow. The following day, Uttar Pradesh BJP President Pankaj Chaudhary met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi. During this meeting, the legislators were issued an ultimatum by the evening of December 25. Currently, the intelligence police of the Yogi government are investigating the true masterminds behind the gathering of Brahmin legislators. Notably, political mobilization based on family or specific communities has been criticized. Chaudhary remarked that some party leaders organized a special feast to discuss their community, which he deemed inconsistent with the constitutional traditions of the BJP. He even threatened action against any future similar initiatives. However, when Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya was questioned about this meeting, he stated that there was nothing wrong with it, suggesting that interactions among legislators should not be viewed through the lens of caste.

Power Dynamics Within the Party

The event is being interpreted as a display of power, particularly as it follows a similar gathering of Thakur and Kurmi legislators in August. The initial meeting of Thakur legislators was held at Hotel Clark Awadh under the guise of a birthday celebration. Had the party leadership taken a firmer stance at that time, the current situation might have been avoided. Bhupendra Chaudhary was the state president of the BJP during that period. Subsequently, gatherings were held in the names of Kalyan Singh and Avanti Bai Lodhi, and more recently, Brahmin leaders convened for a meeting and feast at the government residence of the Kushinagar MLA during the winter session of the legislature.

Underlying Causes of the Turmoil

With the assembly elections scheduled for 2027, the BJP faced a significant setback in Uttar Pradesh in 2024. Reports indicate that due to the opposition's PDA card, the BJP lost support from OBCs and particularly Kurmi voters. This has led the BJP to prioritize these communities. Many upper-caste individuals feel overlooked and are eager to assert their importance. Meanwhile, the opposition sees this as an opportunity, especially after the recent Bihar elections, where they focused on Dalit and OBC issues while criticizing upper-caste sentiments. The opposition aims to attract upper-caste voters by learning from Bihar's experience. The internal strife within the BJP presents a chance for the opposition, while the BJP has historically viewed upper-caste individuals as its core supporters, leading to concerns about losing this voter base.

Congress Critiques BJP's Caste Politics

Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput accused the BJP of perpetuating divisive politics based on caste and religion. He pointed out that while the meeting of Thakur legislators is accepted, Brahmin legislators are merely warned. It is a reality that Brahmin BJP legislators feel disrespected and are likely to face electoral defeat. In Uttar Pradesh, dominance is held by a single caste. Among the BJP's 258 legislators in the state, 84 belong to the Other Backward Classes (OBC), 59 to Scheduled Castes (SC), 45 are Thakur, 42 are Brahmin, and 28 belong to other upper castes (Vaishya, Kayastha, Punjabi, Khatri). Of the 79 MLCs in the state, 26 are OBC, 23 are Thakur, 14 are Brahmin, two are SC, two are Muslim, and 12 belong to other upper castes. In December 2021, just weeks before the announcement of the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, the BJP formed a four-member committee aimed at appealing to the Brahmin community, responding to grassroots feedback indicating that the opposition had somewhat succeeded in portraying the BJP as failing to provide adequate respect and representation for Brahmins under its governance.