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‘Communal strife will push back India by 100 years’

Rao alleged that the policies of the BJP government were pushing the country towards a disaster. …reports Asian Lite News

Voicing concern over growing attempts to create communal hatred in India, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday warned that the sectarian strife will push the country back by 100 years.

He said that if the current trend of creating communal divide for political gains goes unchecked, the country will have to pay a very heavy price.

Addressing a news conference, he slammed ruling BJP at the Centre for whipping up communal passions and spreading hatred between different communities.

He alleged that the policies of the BJP government were pushing the country towards a disaster. “It will take 100 years for the country to recover,” he said.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, said the country suffered in every aspect under BJP rule. “The GDP has come down, the economy is in bad shape, unemployment is rising, industries are getting shut down, cesses and taxes are being hiked indiscriminately and prices of essential commodities are rising,” he said.

The TRS chief alleged that the BJP was drunk high on power and whenever real issues are raised, it comes up with Kashmir Files, Pulwama or something to garner votes.

KCR alleged that during Ram Navami, trouble was created in states like Gujarat and Karnataka where elections are due. “They do this drama before elections. Stones are pelted to create tension and they then try to politically capitalise on the situation,” he said.

He said the policies of BJP have created problems in Bengaluru which was built as Silicon Valley of India with the hard work of many governments in the past.

The TRS leader mentioned about bans in Karnataka on hijab, halal, vehicles driven by Muslims and boycott of shops owned by Muslims. “Will this not have any backlash,” he asked.

He pointed out that there are 13 crore Indians who are employed in various countries. “What will happen if they are sent back. Will the BJP give them jobs? It is already unable to provide jobs to the unemployed in the country as existing industries are closing down. What will happen if investors don’t come to invest in the country,” he asked.

KCR said he would intensify his efforts to play a vital role to save the country from the disaster by creating awareness among people. He believes that people in India are enlightened and they will come forward to save the country.

ALSO READ: Karnataka’s polarising politics casts a shadow on Bengaluru

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BJP rolls out its ‘Mission 150+’ plan

The saffron party has already started working on social engineering and identifying strong local leaders…reports Shashi Bhushan

After the party won four out of five states in the recent assembly polls, the BJP has started preparations for the Karnataka assembly polls scheduled mid next year. The party is working on ‘Mission 150+’ for the assembly polls in 2023.

Recently, Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the southern state to take stock of the preparations and asked the party cadre to hit the ground running to achieve ‘Mission 150+’. It is learnt that Shah has given specific work to be completed and said that more will be assigned in the future.

“Elections will be held next year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji’s ‘naam’ and ‘kaam’ (name and work) is everywhere in the country and the state government is also doing good work. We will definitely achieve our ‘Mission150+’. Amit (Shah) bhai ji has given certain directions to the state unit on how we should work on the ground. The state unit executes the directions on the ground. We will contest the Karnataka election on Prime Minister Modi’s name and work and the work of the BJP government in the state. We will again come to power for sure,” C T Ravi, BJP national general secretary and member Karnataka assembly, said.

After witnessing how the ‘labharthi’ (beneficiaries) of the government schemes voted, which was apparently one of the major factors for the return of the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh, the Karnataka BJP is also planning to reach out to them.

“Around 60 percent of Karnataka’s population is a beneficiary of one or the other schemes of the central or state governments. We have started working on converting this huge chunk of population into our voters. BJP workers and leaders are working to win the support of the ‘labharthi’ in next year’s election,” Ravi said.

The saffron party has already started working on social engineering and identifying strong local leaders.

During his recent visit to Karnataka, Shah attended the 115th birth anniversary celebrations of late Shivakumara Swamiji of Siddaganga Mutt.

The Siddaganga Mutt is an important religious centre of the Lingayat community in the state.

The visit by Shah, insiders said, was part of a confidence building and social outreach exercise aimed to remove any misgivings in the Lingayat community after the party replaced BS Yediyurappa with B S Bommai as the chief minister in Karnataka.

Lingayats constitute close to 17 percent of Karnataka’s population and Yediyurappa is considered one of the tallest leaders of the community.

ALSO READ-BJP distorting history: Sonia

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‘BJP confident of forming govt in Telangana’

Now, under the leadership of Narendra Modi, we have become the world’s largest party. ..speaks Santosh Kumar Patak

Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy says that the BJP will form the government in Telangana in the coming days.

The Union Minister for Culture, Tourism & Development Of North Eastern Region (DoNER) also held the Congress responsible for every problem in the country, and said that Sonia Gandhi has “no right” to criticise the BJP.

In an interview with Santosh Kumar Pathak, the BJP leader and MP from Telangana expressed his views on a range of topics, including the party’s foundation day, Vikas Yatra and prospects of BJP’s expansion in south Indian states, among others.

Here are excerpts from the interview:

What’s your take on the message that Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave to the party cadres on BJP’s Foundation Day?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken about the concerns of crores of workers and people of the country… Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the NDA government is working in 18 states. In the coming days, our goal is to make India a world leader again.

We have to make the country powerful by eliminating poverty and unemployment. For this, he (Prime Minister Modi) called upon all the workers to work together. He has asked the people of the country to stay away from family or individual-centric political parties because such parties have no principle and can do anything for power.

BJP’s journey started with only two Lok Sabha seats and today you have coalition governments in 18 states, with 301 MPs in the Lok Sabha. For the first time, the party’s tally in the Rajya Sabha has crossed 100. How do you see this journey of 42 years?

When our journey started with just two seats, people made fun of us but we kept working hard under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani. Our workers worked hard, and sacrificed relentlessly.

Now, under the leadership of Narendra Modi, we have become the world’s largest party. Today, the BJP is the number one party in the Lok Sabha as well as in the Rajya Sabha. We have governments in maximum number of states. The BJP is at the forefront in terms of number of SC, ST and women MLAs and MPs. Finally, a nationalist government is in power which is working in the interest of the country.

The BJP is yet to make its presence felt in a big way in the south. Amit Shah has said on many occasions that the golden age of BJP is yet to come. What are the party’s views in terms of expansion in south India?

You are right… At present we have government in two southern states — Karnataka and Puducherry. In the coming days, we are going to form government in Telangana as well. The BJP will also emerge stronger in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, as people are angry with family and individual-centric parties in these states.

Sonia Gandhi is criticising your government, alleging that the BJP is working on a divisive agenda. Your take…

Sonia Gandhi has no right to criticise the BJP on this issue. It is the Congress that has divided the country in the name of religion, caste, language and financial status. Whatever problems the country has today, the Congress is responsible for them.

ALSO READ-BJP distorting history: Sonia

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BJP distorting history: Sonia

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi

The veteran leader accused the ruling establishment of continuously targeting the opposition, its leaders and workers, reports Asian Lite News

Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday accused the BJP of playing divisive politics and misusing probe agencies to target the opposition parties.

She was speaking at the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting.

“The divisive and polarising agenda of the ruling party and its leaders has now become a regular feature of the political discourse in state after state.”

She said history — not just ancient but also contemporary — is being mischievously distorted and facts are maliciously invented to add fuel to the agenda. It is for everyone to stand up and confront these forces of “hate and prejudice”.

“We will not allow them to damage the bonds of amity and harmony that have sustained and enriched our diverse society for centuries.”she added.

The veteran leader accused the ruling establishment of continuously targeting the opposition, its leaders and workers. The full might of the state machinery is unleashed against them.

“Maximum governance to those in power clearly means spreading maximum fear and intimidation. Such blatant threats and tactics will neither frighten or silence us nor cow us down.” She said.

Sonia alleged that the MSMEs are in the most precarious condition. There is no sign whatsoever that the commitments made to the farmers are going to be fulfilled in any significant manner. Prices of cooking gas and oil, petrol, diesel, fertilisers and other essential commodities have risen to an unbearable limit — and continue to rise.

“A few days back, our party launched a nationwide Mehngai-mukt Bharat campaign in which many of you took part. This must be sustained.”

She praised the Congress-led UPA government’s National Food Security Act and MGNREGA and alleged that though the minister concerned has denied it, inordinately delayed wage payments however, continues to be a serious issue.

“In spite of repeated attempts, we have been unable to get the Government to agree to a discussion on the situation on our borders, a discussion that could only have deepened the sense of collective resolve. The value of non-alignment as a foundational principle of the nation’s foreign policy that was criticised so much has now, I am glad to note, been rediscovered even though it may not be acknowledged as such.” she added.

Pic credits Twitter@Jaishankar

She expressed concern on the future of the thousands of students who have been evacuated from Ukraine. She charged the government with diluting the labour laws at a time of growing unemployment and livelihood insecurity. Interest rates on employee provident fund accumulations have been reduced considerably.

“Public sector enterprises, the one important avenue for employment of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes are being sold off under the fancy name “asset monetisation”. This will be another disaster as demonestisation turned out to be,” she said.

ALSO READ-BJP gen secy pushes for halal meat ban

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BJP gen secy pushes for halal meat ban

He appealed to the youths to shun those who disturb peace as there would be difficult days ahead…reports Asian Lite News

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national general secretary CT Ravi on Tuesday said that halal meat is part of an “economic jihad” by the Muslim community.

“Halal is an economic jihad. It has been put in place so that Muslims don’t do business with others, which has been forced upon them,” Ravi, the BJP legislator from Chikmagalur, said in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

“How they (Muslims) feel that halal has to be imposed, the same way it is not wrong for others (right-wing groups) to say not to use it,” he added. The statements come a day after the Hindu Janajagruthi Samithi, a right-wing group, gave a clarion call to stop buying halal meat as animals culled in this process was done so by offering it to “Allah” and the same would be offensive if used by Hindus to offer to their gods.

The ban on halal meat is being viewed as an extension of the ongoing onslaught against the Muslim population in the state which began to take shape after the hijab row and later manifested into restrictions against the community from taking part in Hindu religious fairs, people aware of developments said.

HD Kumaraswamy, the former chief minister and Janata Dal (Secular) or JD (S) leader on Tuesday lashed out at the BJP, stating that the government is responsible to protect all 65 million people in the state and not just one community. He added that the BJP is backing such bans demanded by the right-wing groups as the 2023 assembly elections are in fray.

“Our chief minister is a puppet of particular organisations (apparently a reference to RSS),” Kumaraswamy said.

He added that Bommai was running the government based on their (right-wing organisations) direction. “To safeguard his seat, whatever their giving direction, he is taking decision(s)”, he said.

He appealed to the youths to shun those who disturb peace as there would be difficult days ahead.

The JD(S) second-in-command held the Congress accountable for the rise in communal politics.

“Congress brought such a government in the State. Now, the Congress calls the BJP government immoral. Who’s responsible for it? Neither the JD(S) nor H D Kumaraswamy is responsible for the current situation. Because of the tortures of Congress, people of the State are suffering,” Kumaraswamy alleged.

At least five ministers from the Bommai government could not be reached for comment.

On Monday, Hindu Janajagrithi Samithi said that they are starting a campaign against the purchase of halal meat as it is “culled under Islamic practices and cannot be offered to Hindu gods”. “During Ugadi (considered the New Year for Kannadigas), there are a lot of purchases of meat, and we are starting a campaign against Halaal meat. As per Islam, Halaal meat is first offered to Allah, and the same cannot be offered to Hindu gods,” said Mohan Gowda, the Samithi spokesperson.

ALSO READ-Yechury calls for national alliance against BJP

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Yechury calls for national alliance against BJP

The CPI-M leader said that the BJP is using hate politics and Hindutva identity to win elections by putting all the other teething issues faced by the people of the country in the back-burner, reports Asian Lite News

The General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Sitaram Yechury, has called for a broad alliance of Left, secular and democratic forces to unseat the BJP.

He said the ‘Hindu Rashtra’ ideology of the BJP is the biggest challenge faced by the country, and the saffron party is trying to replace the secular and democratic traditions of the country with this ideology.

The CPI-M leader was delivering the inaugural address at the 23rd party conference at Madurai on Wednesday.

Yechuri said that even after the protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act, farm laws, and the popular discontent against the Union government on the rising fuel prices and economic policies, the BJP is having an edge in the elections in the country.

The CPI-M leader said that the BJP is using hate politics and Hindutva identity to win elections by putting all the other teething issues faced by the people of the country in the back-burner.

He also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of promoting the movie ‘The Kashmir Files’, which he said speaks only about the killings of Kashmiri Pandits by the militants in the 1990s.

He said the movie doesn’t talk about the murder of 1,635 people of other faiths, including Muslims, by the militants in Kashmir during the same period.

Yechury also came slammed Vice President for supporting the promotion of Bhagavad Gita in educational institutions, asking why the government is not promoting texts of other religions.

He said that India is a secular country and that Gita only justifies caste hierarchy and caste atrocities in the society.

The CPI-M leader cited the examples of Gita justifying subjugating women, and added that Sudras were depicted as manual scavengers in the text.

He said that promoting such a reactionary, backward, and exploitative system should not be allowed.

The CPI-M General Secretary said that in Scandinavian countries, right-wing governments were thrown out by the people and replaced with Left governments, adding that countries like Chile, Honduras and Peru had strongly resisted the imperial hegemony of the United States.

Secretary of Tamil Nadu CPI-M, K. Balakrishnan, and other senior leaders were present in the meeting.

General strike against central govt

The Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Tuesday congratulated the working class for the successful 48-hour general strike held on March 28 and 29 in the country. Millions of workers responded to the call given by 10 Central Trade Unions and various sectoral federations, the official statement on Tuesday said.

According to reports, there was a total shutdown in Kerala and the strike had a huge impact in major industrial centres in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Telangana, Karnataka, Assam and Tripura.

Insurance and banking services saw total participation in the strike. Large number of workers in key sectors like transport, electricity, state government and central government employees, scheme workers also participated in the strike.

The success of the strike reflects the growing anger against the BJP government’s policies of monetisation of national assets, privatisation of public sector units, four labour codes and price rise, the statement said. The strike call was actively supported by various Kisan organisations, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and agricultural workers’ organisations.

The CPI-M condemns the high-handedness of police in certain states. The government should heed to the workers’ demands instead of resorting to repression. This general strike should be a warning to the government not to pursue anti-working class policies, the Party said.

ALSO READ-How BJP bagged a victory in Lakhimpur Kheri?

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Yogi sworn in as UP Chief Minister

The new ministry sworn in on Friday includes 52 ministers, including 18 in cabinet rank, and the government now has a new complexion….reports Asian Lite News

 Yogi Adityanath was sworn in as the 33rd chief minister of Uttar Pradesh on Friday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers and a galaxy of chief ministers.

Adityanath was administered the oath of office by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel at the Ekana stadium here, with over 75,000 people from different walks of life, cheering him on.

Two deputy chief ministers were also sworn in along with the chief minister. They include Keshav Maurya — who recently lost the election, and Brajesh Pathak.

Deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma in the previous government, has been dropped this time. Sources said that he would now be given an organisational post.

The new ministry sworn in on Friday includes 52 ministers, including 18 in cabinet rank, and the government now has a new complexion.

Five women ministers have been included. They are — Baby Rani Maurya, Gulab Devi, Pratibha Shukla, Rajni Tiwari and Vijay Laxmi Gautam.

Uttar Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Swatantra Dev Singh has been inducted into the ministry while some senior leaders including Shrikant Sharma, Siddhartha Nath Singh, Ashutosh Tandon, Mahendra Singh, Jai Pratap Singh, Satish Mahana and Mohsin Raza have been dropped.

A much-awaited inclusion was that of former IAS officer Arvind Sharma who had quit his job in the PMO last year and was made MLC in Uttar Pradesh.

Asheesh Patel of Apna Dal and Sanjay Nishad of Nishad Party have also found a berth in the council of ministers as cabinet ministers.

Daya Shankar Singh, husband of former minister Swati Singh, has also been made minister of state.

Former IPS officer Aseem Arun, who quit his job in January to join politics, has also been made minister.

However, former ED official Rajeshwar Singh, who won the election after quitting his job, has not been made minister.

Among the surprise omissions in the government formation are rebel Congress MLA Aditi Singh who had contested the elections on a BJP ticket from Rae Bareli.

Aparna Yadav, younger daughter-in-law of Mulayam Singh Yadav, who was also tipped to become a minister, was not on the list.

ALSO READ: Yogi busts ‘Noida jinx’

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Muslim traders support bandh, BJP seeks action

Even as Muslim traders supported the bandh call given by community organisations in Karnataka and closed their shops in few pockets, it did not have any impact on the day-to-day life in the state…reports Asian Lite News



The ruling BJP and opposition Congress, meanwhile, locked horns in the assembly over the bandh. The BJP sought action against those who are going against court verdict and the Congress maintained that they have the right to protest.

Responding to bandh call, the shoppers, businessmen and traders closed their shops in Shivajinagar, K.G. Halli, D.J. Halli, Padarayanapura and few other pockets in Bengaluru.

Police Commissioner Kamal Pant said that the bandh has been observed in many places but there is no impact. The police conducted flag marches in sensitive locations in the capital.

In Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Kalaburagi districts, Muslim businessmen closed their shops to support the bandh. However, the normal life was not affected at all.

Meanwhile, BJP MLA Raghupathy Bhat in the assembly demanded that legal action has to be initiated against those who have given bandh call questioning the court verdict.

He said, the verdict can be challenged in the Supreme Court. Calling bandh will make no difference, action has to be initiated against them.

Jagadish Shettar, former Chief Minister supported Raghupathy Bhat and said that observing bandh is not a good development. “Is there no value of the court judgment?” Shettar questioned.

“Protest against the government is different. But, if they observe bandh against court order, it will lead to anarchy in the society. No one should support it and strict action must be initiated,” he said.

Opposition leader Siddaramaiah, however, supported the bandh saying that there is a provision to appeal in the Supreme Court. Observing bandh peacefully and protesting is their constitutional right. How can it be stopped? They should be allowed to observe bandh, he said.

Deputy Opposition leader U.T. Khader maintained that the bandh call is given not to disrespect the court order but to express their dissatisfaction over judgment.

ALSO READ: SC seeks time to hear hijab appeal

BJP National General Secretary and MLA C.T. Ravi intervened and said that vote bank politics over the issue is wrong. “Why should there be uniform in schools? Court had given verdict after detailed inquiry, how is it ok to protest and call for bandh against court order?” Ravi questioned.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra reacting to the bandh call said that this is a peculiar situation. The law of the land would not apply to them, they don’t follow the court order. This is a special case. If anyone violates court order and carry out activities like this, stern action would be initiated.

There is a provision for an appeal in the Supreme Court. But, these activities will lead to law and order situation in the state and this is wrong, he stated.

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Mamata has a warning for BJP for Presidential poll

The Presidential election is conducted through an electoral college with Parliament and legislative assembly members casting their votes in order of preference for the candidates in fray…reports Asian Lite News

Though the BJP won four states in the recent Assembly polls but winning the Presidential election will not be an easy task for it because they don’t have even half of the legislators of the country, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday.

In her reply on the discussion on the budget in the Assembly, she said: “The BJP may have won elections in four states but not even half of the country’s legislators, who elect the President of India, belong to the party. It will not be easy for the BJP to win this election. The game is not over yet.

“Those who don’t have even half the number of legislators in India should not make tall claims.”

“Regional forces, such as the Samajwadi Party, may have been defeated but they are stronger now,” said Banerjee, noting that her ally in Uttar Pradesh controls 111 of the state’s 403 seats, 64 more than its tally in the last polls.

“Opposition parties have more MLAs across the nation. The country is fighting the party at the Centre,” she added.

The Presidential election is conducted through an electoral college with Parliament and legislative assembly members casting their votes in order of preference for the candidates in fray.

The number and value of votes of each voter from the state legislatures is worked out by a formula which takes into account the population of the state in 1971.

Criticising the BJP government at the Centre over the ‘Pegasus’ issue, Banerjee claimed that her phone is also being tapped, and she also had received an offer to buy the spyware but had declined it.

“My phone is being tapped. If we talk about anything, they will come to know. Three years back, I had also got an offer to buy Pegasus. But I did not buy it. I don’t believe in interfering in privacy and curbing freedom of speech. But several BJP-ruled states had bought Pegasus,” she said.

Amid slogans of the opposition on the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, the Chief Minister said: “Inefficiency of one or two people does not determine the effectiveness of the entire police force. The police are conducting thorough investigations. Nobody will be spared.”

“The police will not take into account the political background of any suspect. They will take strong action,” she said.

“The opposition did not say a word to condemn the murder of TMC councillor Anupam Dutta at Panihati in North 24 Parganas. Tapan Kandu, the other councillor who was murdered, belonged to the Congress,” she added.

ALSO READ-Mamata meets Sonia; discusses political situation, Pegasus

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BJP got increased support from all castes in UP polls

All major parties – BJP, BSP, INC, and SP – nominated very few SC/ST candidates outside the reserved constituencies…reports Asian Lite News

Despite the pre-election narrative about upper castes being upset with the BJP, an analysis of the election data shows that within the upper castes, the highest number of MLAs are from the BJP alliance.

The alliance has 117 such MLAs whereas the SP alliance has only 11.

The BSP, Congress and Jansatta Dal (Loktantrik) have one MLA each from upper caste category.

All SC/ST MLAs have won only in the reserved constituencies, within which, the BJP alliance has the highest number (65) followed by the SP alliance (20) and Jansatta Dal (Loktantrik) (1).

Caste and religion have remained dominant factors in Uttar Pradesh Assembly election but the charisma of the Modi and Yogi seems to have doused all anger, if any, and the party has got immense Hindu support – including Jats who were said to be opposed to the BJP.

The BJP mobilised voters with social engineering and developmental discourse which paid rich dividends.

Data reveals that the highest number of MLAs have been elected from the Brahmin community (52), followed by Rajput (49), Kurmi/Sainthwar (40), Muslim (34), Jatav/Chamar (29), Pasi (27), Yadav (27), Bania/Khatri (21) and so on.

Except Muslims, Yadavs, and Rajbhars, the BJP alliance has the highest number of MLAs in each caste.

According to BJP sources, the party has got about 89 per cent Brahmin votes, compared to 83 per cent in 2017.

Nearly 87 per cent Thakurs have voted for BJP, compared to 70 per cent in 2017. It is noteworthy that in 2017, Yogi Adityanath – a Thakur himself – was not projected as chief minister.

Both Brahmins and Thakurs have a population of about 7 per cent each but are powerful opinion makers, especially in the rural areas.

The BJP has also got considerable support from Hindu backward castes which explains the increased number of MLAs from these caste groups.

The 18th Uttar Pradesh Assembly will have the highest number of MLAs from Hindu backward castes, followed by upper castes, SCs/STs, Muslims, and Sikhs.

Within backward caste MLAs, the BJP alliance has 90 legislators whereas the SP alliance has 60 and the Congress one.

The figure shows that 151 (38 per cent) MLAs elected, are from the Hindu backward castes, followed by the upper castes (131, 33 per cent) and the SC/ST (86, 21 per cent).

Total 86 constituencies are reserved for the SC/ST category, and candidates belonging to these communities have been able to win only these reserved seats.

All major parties – BJP, BSP, INC, and SP – nominated very few SC/ST candidates outside the reserved constituencies.

This time, 34 MLAs (8 per cent) have been elected from the Muslim community despite them constituting around 19 per cent of the state’s population. All 34 Muslim MLAs belong to the SP which has reportedly got 79 per cent Muslim votes, compared to 46 per cent in 2017.

Only one candidate from Sikh community has won the election.

Interestingly, the BJP has managed to win over the Jatav voters who, once, were solidly behind the Bahujan Samaja Party.

Nearly 19 candidates belonging to the Jatav/Chamar caste in the BJP alliance have won the elections.

The BJP, apparently, has overturned the game of rival political parties, claiming to be the harbinger of social justice and welfare on their own turf.

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