Unease among NDA allies in bid to win back core caste support

The allies are raising contentious issues like caste census, reservation in the private sector, increase in reservation and more.

- Rajesh Kumar Singh

LUCKNOW: A resounding victory in the UP assembly bypolls in November enabled the BJP to bounce back from its less than expected performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, but there is still unease among the party's allies who too suffered setbacks in their strongholds in last summer's general elections.

Now, these National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies are keen to win back their key caste support base and send a message to their constituency. For that, they are raising contentious issues like caste census, reservation in the private sector, increase in reservation, implementation of the Rohini Commission and Social Justice committee reports.

The allies include Apna Dal (Sonelal), the Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamara Aam Dal (NISHAD) party and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP). The impatience among the allies to push their agenda may have caused some discomfort in the BJP.