Sanjay Nishad Kicks Off 'Constitutional Safety Rally' in Prayagraj
As the political temperature rises in Uttar Pradesh ahead of upcoming electoral battles, Nishad Party national president and state cabinet minister Sanjay Nishad has raised a significant political pitch. During a massive rally in Prayagraj, Dr. Sanjay Nishad openly demanded that the BJP-led government fulfill long-pending promises regarding the reservation status of certain communities. The gathering saw massive participation from members of the Nishad, Mallah, Kashyap, and Bind communities.
By launching this statewide campaign, the Nishad Party aims to showcase its electoral clout and influence political bargaining power. Sanjay Nishad stated that his party is part of the ruling coalition precisely to ensure that the grievances of marginalized riverine communities are heard and properly addressed by the leadership.
Pushing to Shift 17 Sub-Castes from OBC to SC Category
The core demand raised by the Nishad Party is the reclassification of nearly 17 sub-castes—including Nishad, Mallah, Turai, and Bind—from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category to the Scheduled Castes (SC) list. Sanjay Nishad argued that these communities historically belonged to the SC bracket but were later moved to the OBC list, severely impacting their social mobility and development opportunities.
Citing constitutional provisions and past discussions, the minister reminded the ruling dispensation that social justice for these backward communities was part of the original political agenda of the BJP. He heavily criticized opposition parties like the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party, accusing them of treating the Nishad community merely as a vote bank without delivering any substantial welfare policies when in power.
Phased Statewide Rallies and Political Pressure
To amplify this demand, the Nishad Party has announced plans to organize 'Constitutional Safety Rallies' across ten different districts of Uttar Pradesh. The campaign seeks to mobilize rural youth and community elders in every assembly constituency. Political analysts believe this move is calculated pressure on the ruling alliance to concede ground on seat-sharing and community welfare ahead of the polls.
"Our clear demand to the government is that 17 sub-castes, including Nishad, Mallah, and Turai, should be shifted from OBC to the Scheduled Castes category. We are part of the government because we trust that BJP will listen and deliver justice." — Dr. Sanjay Nishad, President, Nishad Party & UP Cabinet Minister
The evolving political dynamics surrounding reservation will likely test coalition coordination in Uttar Pradesh, as opposition parties closely watch these developments to counter the ruling front's social engineering strategies.
