LUCKNOW: Just a few months before ruling BJP goes to assembly polls in early 2022, it has decided to set its house of castes in order.
With an aim to woo OBCs and MBCs who have not got adequate share in the government and to keep the upper caste Brahmin community in good humour, the Yogi Adityanath-led government is likely to induct one Brahmin, three OBCs, one ST and two Dalits in the ministry. Similarly, three OBCs would be accommodated in the nominated MLCs seat which has been lying vacant since July this year.
Congress turncoat and Brahmin leader Jitin Prasada, who had been conducting Brahman Chetna Yatra in the state before joining the BJP in Delhi a few months ago would in all likelihood be accommodated as cabinet rank minister in Yogi government on Sunday evening. The swearing-in is likely to take place at 5.30pm. Jitin would be among the four to be nominated as MLC, sources said.
Prasad, a native of Shahjahanpur region had been feeling suffocated in the Congress since the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Now that he has switched loyalty to BJP, the party think tank has decided to accommodate him in the Yogi Cabinet barely five months before assembly elections.
While he would be most likely the lone cabinet-rank minister in the expansion, others who would get positions in the Yogi ministry include Dharmveer Prajapati. From an OBC category, Prajapati is presently vice-chairman in UP Khadi and Gramodyog Board.
After two kurmis Apna Dal’s Anupriya Patel and BJP’s Pankaj Chaudhary getting berths in Modi cabinet, yet another Kurmi, Chhatrapal Gangwar, is in all likelihood getting a berth in Yogi ministry. Kurmis have approximately 9% share among the OBC votes.
From the Scheduled Tribe, which has no representation in the Yogi Cabinet, Sanjay Gond from Sonebhadra is likely to be sworn in.
Among Nishads, while Nishad party chief would be second among the four to be nominated as MLC, the BJP is likely to induct Sangeeta Balwant Bind from Ghazipur. Bind’s induction is being seen as BJP’s bid to create a Nishad leadership within the party.
Among Dalits, Paltu Ram, a Jatav from Balrampur would be inducted in the Yogi cabinet while among Sonker, who are traditionally believed to be loyal to BJP, Dinesh Khatik is likely to get the ministerial berth.
A few castes which would not get a place in Yogi cabinet on Sunday, would be accommodated through the MLC nominations. Other than Jitin Prasad and Dr Sanjay Nishad, surprise nominations could be Gopal Anjaan from Bhurji community, which belongs to OBC category.
Similarly, Chaudhary Virendra Singh Gurjar, a renowned family from the Gurjar community in West UP, who had switched loyalty from Samajwadi Party to the BJP, a few days before Lok Sabha election, is also likely to be nominated as an MLC.
Chaudhary Virendra Singh is believed to have a good clout among his community in the West UP region.
