Be it Brahmins or OBC, every section is with BJP: Swatantra Dev Singh

“Talk about Brahmins or OBC or any other caste group, they all understand one thing. Under the Yogi (Adityanath) government, there is no corruption, and they are getting what the central government sends from Delhi directly in their bank accounts,” Singh told ET.

“The second issue is law and order. Ask anyone in UP and they would say that they are living peacefully under the Yogi government. The government is confiscating properties of criminals and putting them behind bars,” Singh added. The entire OBC (Other Backward Classes) community is with the Bharatiya Janata Party as there is no reason why they should look at other parties, he said. “The current BJP has leadership from all sections of society. Even those OBC castes who never got a representation post-independence have been given aplace in the central and state cabinet,” Singh added.Opposition parties are doing Brahmin Sammelans (conventions) across the state to woo the community.

“Only their own party workers go to these meetings. It’s a flop show,” he said. The BJP is also not worried about the ongoing farmers’ agitation despite a perception that it could damage the party’s prospects in Western UP.

“There are around 150 assembly constituencies which are in the sugarcane belt. We have deployed party leaders post the formation of Kisan Morcha (front) in the state, who are talking to people in each constituency,” Singh said. “The response is very encouraging. The farmers understand which government can be beneficial to them.”

Singh said, just as Prime Minister Narendra Modi had mentioned in his Independence Day address to the nation, 80% of farmers are small and marginal land holders and they are happy with the Centre’s farm laws.

BJP will complete all organizational work in the next one month, he said. “From August 23 to September 25, we have to complete the membership drive, get in touch with old members and also contact the beneficiaries of different government schemes,” he added.

On September 25, the birth anniversary of party stalwart Deendayal Upadhyaya, BJP will hold panna pramukh sammelan (a convention of booth heads) at 1,918 mandals (administrative sub-divisions) across the state. On the Opposition’s demand for a caste census, Singh – who was in Delhi on Friday to meet party leaders – said it was up to the central government to take a decision. On a likely cabinet reshuffle in the state, he said there “is no such talk at the moment, but nothing can be ruled out. It is up to the central leadership.”