UP Minister Sanjay Nishad Demands Reservation For Nishad Community

Uttar Pradesh Fisheries Minister and NISHAD Party chief Sanjay Nishad has warned the BJP that it could face electoral consequences if his community’s demand for reservation is not addressed ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Speaking at his party’s 11th foundation day in Lucknow, Nishad argued that previous governments had faced defeat after failing to respond to the community’s demands.

Nishad, an ally of the BJP in the Uttar Pradesh government, referred to the BSP, Samajwadi Party and Congress while making his point. He argued that these parties had ignored the reservation demand and were subsequently voted out of power. He cautioned that the BJP could face a similar outcome if it failed to act on the issue, putting the demand at the centre of his party’s political agenda.

The NISHAD Party chief urged state Transport Minister Daya Shankar Singh, who was present on the stage, to take up the reservation issue with the BJP government. Nishad argued that members of his community had contributed to the country’s Independence movement and the making of the Constitution. He also asked his party workers to strengthen the organisation and prepare their respective booths ahead of the next election.

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Nishad’s remarks come after he previously indicated that his party’s alliance with the BJP for the 2027 polls would depend heavily on progress on the reservation issue. In March, he acknowledged steps taken by the BJP to recognise the community’s heritage and establish a separate fisheries ministry, but maintained that reservation remained the community’s primary demand. He had also recalled his earlier association with the Samajwadi Party, alleging that it had failed to support the issue.

The Samajwadi Party dismissed Nishad’s latest warning, accusing him of political posturing. Party spokesperson Fakhrul Hasan Chand questioned why Nishad continued to remain part of the BJP-led government if reservation was such a central issue. The exchange highlights the political importance of the Nishad community as parties prepare for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election.

Nishad’s warning comes as the BJP seeks another term in Uttar Pradesh, one of the country’s most politically significant states. With the 2027 election approaching, the reservation demand is likely to remain an important issue for the NISHAD Party as it negotiates its relationship with the BJP. Nishad’s latest remarks indicate that the community’s reservation demand could become a significant factor in the alliance’s electoral strategy.

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