The Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh has imposed a ban on the mention of caste in public places. Acting Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar issued written instructions to senior officials across the state. This order means no political party or social organization can conduct caste-based rallies.
The Allahabad High Court recently directed the UP government to prevent police records and public spaces from mentioning caste along with people's names. In response, the Yogi government has made this decision.
The ban on caste conventions will directly impact the ongoing SP Gurjar Conference. Also, it is seen as a significant blow to political parties aiming to solidify their social engineering before the 2027 elections.
Ban on Caste Conventions in UP
Citing the High Court's order, the UP government has banned the public mention of caste. Acting Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar has directed all senior officials, including the Police Chief and District Magistrates, that the state's declared policy is to ensure an inclusive and constitutionally compliant system.
The Chief Secretary instructed that FIRs and arrest memos should not mention the accused's caste, instead referring to parents' names. Similarly, caste identifiers and slogans must be removed from police stations, vehicles, and signboards. The ban extends to social media, prohibiting caste-based content.
A Blow to Political Parties Ahead of 2027
The Yogi government implemented these directives amid preparations for local elections. Political parties were gearing up for the 2027 assembly elections, focusing on their social alignments. Now, caste conventions are banned in their preparatory activities.
Parties like the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Rashtriya Lok Dal, Nishad Party, and Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party may find this challenging. SP had focused on PDA (Backward, Dalit, and Minority) politics aiming for 2024's Lok Sabha elections. They will need to revise strategies, notably BJP may face opposition here.
Source: aajtak
Is the SP Gurjar Conference Under a Political Eclipse?
The SP has taken significant steps towards strengthening its caste equations for the 2027 assembly elections. In Western UP, the party conducts Gurjar gatherings led by national spokesperson Rajkumar Bhati. They're focusing on areas with an influential Gurjar voter presence. This governmental direction puts a political eclipse on SP's conference.
Rajkumar Bhati told Aajtak.in that the Yogi government and BJP are frightened by the SP's Gurjar conference. To curb it, the government banned caste conventions. Meanwhile, the BJP has held similar conventions at party offices, hosting programs for various castes during elections. During the Ghaziabad by-elections, CM Yogi's roadshow featured platforms from 12 different castes. Yet, only now the government remembers to impose a ban.
Rajkumar Bhati emphasized that their mission to awaken and connect the Gurjar community with social justice continues uninhibited. He maintained that, despite the ban, their pre-planned programs will proceed, aiming to oust BJP from power in 2027.
Understanding Gurjar Politics in UP
In Western UP, the Gurjar community plays a crucial role, influencing political dynamics significantly. They hold sway over about two dozen constituencies in districts like Ghaziabad, Noida, Bijnor, Sambhal, Meerut, Saharanpur, and Kairana, with a voter base ranging from 20,000 to 70,000.
Gurjars belong to the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and are considered economically and politically robust. Historically, they were Congress supporters, shifted to SP and BSP post the Mandal politics, and have largely backed the BJP since 2014. Now, SP seeks to align with them again.
