Caste, community-centric narrative at play in excessive stakes Milkipur byelection

Samajwadi Celebration President Akhilesh Yadav.
| Picture Credit score: PTI

Because the marketing campaign for the Milkipur byelection below the Ayodhya district features momentum, caste and community-centric narratives take centre stage. Samajwadi Celebration (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav who’s pushing the PDA (pichada, Dalit, and alpasankhyak), acronym for backwards, Dalits, and minorities come out with information and figures claiming that these social teams has solely 20% share in administrative appointments in Ayodhya district, calling upon these communities to vote unitedly for the SP.

“The reverse math of favouritism in BJP rule, the PDA neighborhood, which is 90% in quantity, has solely about 20% share in administrative appointments in Ayodhya and the dominant folks, who’re 10% in quantity, have gotten 80% appointments to administrative posts. There’s nothing extra to say,” Mr. Yadav stated on social media platform X. He additionally added a chart exhibiting solely three out of 13 administrative officers in Ayodhya are from these communities.

Milkipur Vidhan Sabha seat goes for byelection on February 5 and the outcome will likely be declared on February 8. The excessive stakes byelection was necessitated after sitting SP MLA Awdhesh Prasad gained from the Faizabad Lok Sabha seat in 2024 Lok Sabha elections by defeating two-term BJP MP Lallu Singh. Within the current contest, BJP’s Chandrabhanu Paswan is pitted towards SP’s Ajeet Prasad, who can be the son of Mr. Awdhesh Prasad.

Milkipur, a reserved Scheduled Caste (SC) seat, remained a tricky electoral panorama for the BJP, which has gained the seat solely as soon as previously 33 years. The Faizabad Lok Sabha seat consists primarily of Ayodhya district.

Earlier, the SP president shared a chart exhibiting Station Home Officer/Station Officer in Ayodhya and their social/caste id, claiming that out of 26 SHO/SOs in Ayodhya, solely six (23%) hails from social teams which the SP described as PDA.

“Ayodhya is witnessing byelection in Milkipur, therefore we’re coming with figures of Backwards, Dalit and Muslim illustration in administrative system of Ayodhya, our chief is bringing the true face of the BJP, the occasion which requires Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, however have uncared for these communities, PDA is our slogan and we now have repeatedly fought for rights of those teams,” senior Samajwadi Celebration (SP) chief Sunil Singh Yadav ‘Sajan’ stated. He expressed confidence that the SP will emerge victorious in Milkipur with voters from Backward, Dalit and Muslim neighborhood supporting the occasion.

“In 2024 Lok Sabha, a candidate from Pasi (SC) neighborhood emerged victorious as PDA totally stood behind him, it’s going to get repeated once more in Milkipur,” he added.

U.P. CM Yogi Adityanath who’s main the ruling BJP marketing campaign in Milkipur is reaching out to numerically important Dalit neighborhood by alleging the SP as ‘Anti-Dalit’ occasion for reportedly opposing growth initiatives taken by the BJP authorities for Dalit icons and highlighting the saffron occasion’s pro-Dalit strategy. “The SP has at all times insulted Babasaheb Dr B.R. Ambedkar and given patronage to mafias. Within the SP rule goons used to seize their land by simply inserting a flag,” he stated, addressing an election rally. Making a reference Moeed Khan, a SP employee who’s jail on fees of raping a Dalit lady, Mr. Adityanath accused the SP of treating the accused as a hero. “Moeed Khan, who performed with the honour of a Dalit daughter, is the hero of Samajwadi Celebration. Sadly, the SP MP from Ayodhya carries Moeed Khan on his head,” the U.P. CM claimed.

The BJP which is specializing in strong sales space administration with marking of influential folks, hopes of a sizeable assist of SCs (Dalits), sections of Different Backward Courses (OBCs) and full assist of Brahmins and Rajputs. “We’re getting assist all sections, folks in Milkipur are dissatisfied with the efficiency of Awadhesh Prasad, they’re ready to appropriate the error of Lok Sabha election, we are going to get a sizeable assist of SC voters,” stated Dubey, a senior state BJP chief, who visited Milkipur thrice within the final 10-days, stated.

Mr. Dubey identified the details like earlier SP altering the title of the medical school in Kannauj, which had been named after B.R. Ambedkar, is echoing with the neighborhood. “It’s the BJP authorities, which restored the title to honour Dr. Ambedkar, such misdeed by the SP is getting highlighted reaching lots giving the BJP large benefit,” Mr. Dubey stated.