Outreach to Brahmins significant, but long way to go for winning community’s trust, say activists on SP’s push

As the Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav seeks to win over the Brahmin community in Uttar Pradesh, several social groups and activists from the community express that the party has a long way to go before it can secure their trust ahead of the 2027 State Assembly election. Shivesh Trivedi, a social activist associated with Akhil Bharatiya Brahmin Mahasabha, acknowledges that the SP's acknowledgement of Brahmins and promises of respect are a positive start but asserts that Yadav must take substantial steps to garner a notable number of votes.

The Brahmin community, which accounts for over 9% of the total electorate in Uttar Pradesh, has traditionally been more supportive of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and Congress parties. Trivedi urges the SP to convert its promises into concrete policies, such as outlining specific measures for the community in its election manifesto, the number of electoral tickets to be awarded to Brahmin leaders, etc.

Ravindra Pandey, an activist with Brahmin Parishad, emphasizes that the SP must clarify its stance on establishing a Brahmin Welfare Board. He stresses that the community comprises educated individuals who scrutinize statements and questions the party's commitment to the formation of such a board. Pandey also notes the importance of Brahmin leaders' influence on decision-making within the party, citing the BSP's reliance on Satish Chandra Mishra during the 2007 elections.

Mata Prasad Pandey, a Brahmin leader and Leader of Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, highlights the significance of Brahmin representatives within the SP. Despite the party having one Lok Sabha MP from the community and a few MLAs in the State Assembly, Mata Prasad Pandey sees the current leadership's emphasis on Brahmin outreach as lacking continuity and clout in addressing the community's core concerns.

Former Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, Yadav's predecessor, indeed governed the state for five years (2012-2017) with an array of influential leaders from various caste groups. However, Ram Dutt Tripathi, a veteran political commentator, argues that Yadav's renewed focus on Brahmins is merely ad hoc and lacks the necessary consistency required for deeper outreach.