In a significant political development ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Yogi Adityanath’s cabinet in Uttar Pradesh has expanded to include four ministers from the BJP, RLD, and SBSP. OP Rajbhar, the leader of SBSP, has been inducted into the cabinet. The return to the NDA and subsequent cabinet inclusion of an RLD legislator marks a new alliance.
A BJP legislator and an MLC also received ministerial berths. The new cabinet members from SBSP include OP Rajbhar and from RLD, Anil Kumar, along with BJP's Sunil Sharma and MLC Dara Singh Chauhan.
OP Rajbhar's Anticipated Ministerial Role Comes to Fruition
OP Rajbhar, the SBSP chief, has carved a distinct political identity in Uttar Pradesh. Ever since he returned to the NDA, there were speculations about his cabinet posting.
It took six months for the posting to materialize, with the Lok Sabha elections on the horizon. The BJP's strategy to include Rajbhar in the UP Cabinet is intrinsically tied to the upcoming elections. The Rajbhar community, which makes up about four percent of UP's population, has a significant presence in the Purvanchal districts.
With 26 Lok Sabha seats in Purvanchal’s 25 districts, the Rajbhar community is crucial in at least a dozen districts. However, SBSP currently holds no seats in Lok Sabha, and OP Rajbhar has set his sights on five seats in discussions with the BJP.
BJP-RLD Alliance: A Strategic Play with Anil Kumar
The ministerial appointment of RLD's Anil Kumar is seen as a 'welcome gift' from BJP to Jayant Chaudhary, whose party RLD is expected to be a key ally in western UP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. This move comes posthumously honoring Chaudhary Charan Singh with a Bharat Ratna, after which Jayant Chaudhary could not refuse the BJP alliance.
By including RLD's legislator in Yogi's cabinet, BJP aims to court the Jat votes in western UP. Moreover, Anil Kumar, a legislator from Dalit Jatav community hopes to connect with Dalit voters in the region.
If RLD's previous performance in Lok Sabha elections is any indicator, the party needs to reclaim its core voter support. For instance, though BJP won 19 of 27 seats in Western UP in the 2019 elections, RLD failed to secure any. With an RLD-BJP coalition in place, both Jayant Chaudhary and the BJP leadership will be vying for maximum wins in western UP.
Sunil Sharma: BJP's Key to Unlocking Brahmin Votes
Sunil Sharma is a prominent BJP leader in Ghaziabad, known for his significant electoral victories. His inclusion in the cabinet is part of BJP's strategy to appeal to Brahmin voters ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
By appointing Sunil Sharma as a minister, the BJP anticipates benefits across Brahmin-majority areas. In the 2022 State Assembly elections, Sunil Sharma impressively won the Sahibabad seat in Ghaziabad with a margin of 214,386 votes over the Samajwadi Party alliance candidate.
Dara Singh Chauhan's Ministerial Comeback
Dara Singh Chauhan, an MLC and prominent figure, is another addition to the Yogi cabinet representing BJP. Formerly a legislator from Madhuban, he won the seat in the 2017 assembly elections but left BJP amidst uncertainties in the 2022 ticket allocations.
Chauhan contested the Ghosi assembly seat on a Samajwadi Party ticket and emerged victorious; however, he reverted to BJP following the party's defeat in governing. After resigning from SP in July 2023, his by-elections resulted in a loss, but he was later designated as an MLC and has now been entrusted with a ministerial role.
