Lucknow: Two days after the Uttar Pradesh government issued a notification prohibiting caste-based political rallies, opposition parties are exploring ways to get around it.
The Samajwadi Party, for instance, has decided to rename its planned Gurjar chaupals PDA (comprising backwards, Dalits and minorities) chaupals.
The Congress is planning Samajik Nyay Sammelans, while the BSP is focusing on Bahujan Samaj meetings, deliberately avoiding caste-specific terminology.
According to SP spokesperson and organiser of the Gurjar Chaupals, Raj Kumar Bhati, “We have changed the name of our meetings from Gurjar Chaupals to PDA Chaupals for now. For our proposed rally in November, which Akhilesh-ji is likely to address, we may call it a ‘PDA Ekta Rally’. We are dropping caste references because this Tanashahi (autocratic) government can slap fake cases on our workers. We don’t want to give them that chance. We are not against the high court order, but this government has gone a step further by banning caste-based chaupals, as they know OBCs and Dalits are uniting against them. Our party had planned to hold over 50 such chaupals.”
Similarly, the Congress in UP, which was planning a public meeting on Maharaja Bijli Pasi—a king from the Pasi community believed to have ruled parts of present-day Uttar Pradesh—is also revising its programme. The party now plans to hold Samajik Nyay Sammelans instead.
UP Congress spokesperson Sachin Rawat told ThePrint, “On 25 December, we are planning an event in the name of Maharaja Bijli Pasi, who is an icon for the Pasi community. Earlier it was to be called a ‘Pasi Sammelan’, but now we will organise it under another name, as the government may not grant permission otherwise.”
The BSP too, sources said, has advised its cadre to use the term Bahujan Samaj meetings instead of caste-specific sammelans.
Govt decision follows HC judgment
The Uttar Pradesh government issued a notification on Sunday banning caste references in police documents, official formats, vehicles and public rallies, in compliance with an Allahabad High Court judgment that described caste glorification as “anti-national” and violative of constitutional morality.
In an official order, Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar instructed all departments that caste will no longer be mentioned in First Information Reports (FIRs), arrest memos, or other police documents. Instead, parents’ names will be used for identification.
The order also directed the immediate removal of caste symbols, slogans, and references from police station noticeboards, vehicles, and signboards.
Although the high court didn’t ban caste-based rallies, the government has gone ahead and prohibited it.
In a 10-point directive to all district magistrates and police chiefs, the government stated that caste-based political rallies disturb public order and banned any caste-based messaging on signboards, social media, and other public platforms.
The decision has triggered a sharp political debate in the state, with opposition parties strongly opposing the government’s stand.
Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav asked on X: “What will be done to remove the caste discrimination that has been ingrained in our minds for 5,000 years and what will be done to eradicate caste discrimination arising from caste-display through clothing, costumes and symbols?”
Political observers say the BSP and SP will be most affected by the ban. The BSP relies heavily on Dalit solidarity rallies, while the SP’s main strength comes from mobilising Yadavs at such events.
For the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), the impact will be moderate since it does not hold too many rallies focused on Jats.
As for smaller parties like the Nishad Party, SBSP, and Apna Dal, their entire politics revolves around their caste identity.
UP based political analyst Professor Kaviraj of Lucknow University said, “This decision of the UP government could create problems not just for the opposition. We have seen the BJP also holding caste-based meetings during the 2022 elections. So, this is not an issue of one party alone. It will be interesting to see what alternatives political parties come up with. In UP politics, caste still matters, and all parties will have to prepare accordingly.”
While BJP allies chose to remain silent on the matter, party spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi said, “We fully support the government’s decision. The BJP does not endorse caste-based politics. In the name of politics, some parties are only trying to fuel social animosity.”
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
Also read: SP’s social engineering vs BJP’s core base—the caste battle in UP