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India Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Why are BJP's micro allies in Uttar Pradesh suddenly restive?
(NOTE: This article was originally published in the India Today issue dated August 18, 2025)In Uttar Pradesh, the smallest players always punch above their weight—and often land the meatier cuts. It's a function of the high-value political real estate market they operate in. So why are the tiny NDA allies who make up the BJP's retinue suddenly acting up? Well, panchayat elections are due next year and the crucial assembly polls follow in 2027. So, they can smell good meat, and piqued appetites have got them all restless. The Apna Dal(S) has begun airing its grievances in public. The Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamara Aam Dal (NISHAD) party is threatening to walk out if its demand for SC status for fisherfolk is not met. The Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), which has made fickleness its calling card, has turned up the volume on increasing the OBC quota share for Rajbhars. These parties have historically stayed afloat and thrived by sensing which way the wind is blowing—shifting sides is an innate skill, a tradition. With the BJP facing a two-term anti-incumbency and the Samajwadi Party out shopping for affections, these allies know their bargaining power is at its peak. Where they choose to go could redraw the political map of India's most consequential party Sanjay Nishad, President Sanjay Nishad, UP's fisheries minister, warns that his party might reconsider its support in 2027 unless the BJP delivers on its promise of Scheduled Caste (SC) status to OBC fisherfolk. The intent was made clear with a bold hoarding outside Nishad's Lucknow home. He has reasons to worry—the SP's ship had loomed large on its waters in the 2024 Lok Sabha in 2016, NISHAD represents 22 riverine sub-castes that make up 12-18 per cent of UP's OBC population. Concentrated in eastern and central UP where the Ganga and Yamuna crash the banks, they have a say in 160-odd assembly seats, making them crucial to the BJP's plans. NISHAD feels ill-compensated for what it brings to the table—a couple of dry bypolls even led to a statewide show of strength. Legal hurdles make the SC status demand hard to fulfil, but the BJP will be wary of fishing lines on the opposite Bharatiya Samaj partyOm Prakash Rajbhar, President Om Prakash Rajbhar, UP's panchayati raj minister and expert political weather forecaster, is one of those who gets away with free speech on even saffron icons. Now, he's on the prowl again, having recently met CM Yogi Adityanath to demand a quota within the OBC quota for the that gives the heebie-jeebies to the BJP, history explains it. The SBSP, formed in 2002, draws on the Rajbhar footprint in Purvanchal. Its damage potential showed in 2022: with the SP, it contested 19 seats, won six, and hurt the BJP in 33. The lotus failed to bloom in Ghazipur (seven seats), Azamgarh (10), won only one of four in Mau, one of seven in Ballia, two of nine in was urgently wooed back into the NDA in 2023—restoring the status of 2017, when the SBSP was an ally and he served briefly in the Yogi cabinet. But it was like inviting a thorn back into the flesh. Now, Rajbhar wants his pound of it—and Dal (Sonelal)Ashish Patel, ex-Working President Perhaps the BJP's most crucial ally in UP, the AD(S) seems profoundly cheesed off with big brother. Tensions arose in July, after Brajendra Patel and other founding members split to form 'Apna Morcha', claiming the support of nine of the party's 13 MLAs. The main party, led by Union minister Anupriya Patel, calls them oustees, expelled in 2022 for anti-party activities. Yet, the new front says it will contest the upcoming panchayat polls while, surprise, still backing the NDA. So, who's in?Anupriya's husband Ashish Patel, who has stepped down as party working president, is threatening to quit the UP cabinet itself. He questions the BJP's intentions, suggesting the rebels are being encouraged to fragment the AD(S) base. Fragmentation is wired into the Apna Dal story—the AD(S) is only the biggest splinter of the original party founded by the late Sone Lal Patel in 1995, with a solid Kurmi base in around 20 districts of eastern and central UP. Anupriya's faction has been with the BJP since 2014, while the rival faction led by mother Krishna and sister Pallavi aligned with the SP. Pallavi even defeated current deputy CM Keshav Maurya in the 2022 election on an SP ticket. But again, she's also said to be close to CM Yogi Adityanath, a link that blurs party lines further and keeps everyone map the AD(S)'s restiveness, contrast it with the quietude of the RLD, which rejoined the NDA in 2024. That its latest ally seems the most solid suffices to describe the BJP's state in to India Today Magazine- Ends
Hans India
07-08-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
‘Ganga at your doorstep to clean your feet' remark by UP minister sparks row
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Fisheries Minister Sanjay Nishad has sparked controversy during his visit to a flood-affected area in Kanpur Dehat where he told a woman that the Ganga river has reached 'your doorstep to clean your feet'. The remark triggered sharp reactions from opposition leaders, who accused the minister of being insensitive to the plight of those affected by floods. Several districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Kanpur, Prayagraj, and Varanasi, have been affected by rising water levels of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers in recent days. In a video that surfaced on social media on Tuesday, Nishad can be seen speaking to a local woman standing in floodwaters and saying, 'Ganga river reaches your door steps to clean your feet and this will take you directly to heaven.' After the minister's statement during his visit on Monday, the woman was heard saying in the viral video, 'Take the blessing of Ganga yourself'. However, it was not clear whether the woman was replying to the minister or talking to another woman present there. Nishad, who is head of NISHAD party, an ally of the BJP, said the remark was made in a lighter vein. 'I was on a visit to a flood-hit area of Nishads where while interacting with them I said that for seeking salvation, people from far away place come to take the holy dip in Ganges and here Ganga 'maiya' was right at their doorstep,' the minister told PTI. 'We Nishads worship rivers, our source of life and livelihoods. So the remark has its own context,' the minister said. During his visit, the minister also reportedly spoke about a policeman from the Nishad community in Prayagraj whose videos of worshipping Ganga waters at his doorstep and swimming in the flood waters have gone viral. Flaying Nishad's remark, Samajwadi Party spokesperson Sharvendra Bikram Singh said this shows the insensitivity of the minister. 'He is not aware of the ground reality and the situation in which flood affected people are living. The state government has failed to provide relief to the people and its minister are looking for photo opportunities. At a time when people are losing their homes and livelihoods due to floods, such statements show how disconnected UP ministers are from ground reality,' Singh said. The Congress dubbed Nishad's remarks 'astha ka apman (insult of faith).' 'Such irresponsible statements are akin to 'astha ka apman'. There are ministers who are preaching swadeshi but moving about in swanky, imported cars,' UP Congress Committee chief Ajay Rai told PTI. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has constituted team of officers and ministers, who are visiting flood affected areas.
NDTV
06-08-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
UP Minister's "Ganga At Doorstep" Remark Draws Sharp Opposition Counter
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Fisheries Minister Sanjay Nishad has sparked controversy during his visit to a flood-affected area in Kanpur Dehat where he told a woman that the Ganga river has reached "your doorstep to clean your feet". The remark triggered sharp reactions from opposition leaders, who accused the minister of being insensitive to the plight of those affected by floods. Several districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Kanpur, Prayagraj, and Varanasi, have been affected by rising water levels of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers in recent days. In a video that surfaced on social media on Tuesday, Mr Nishad can be seen speaking to a local woman standing in floodwaters and saying, 'Ganga river reaches your door steps to clean your feet and this will take you directly to heaven." After the minister's statement during his visit on Monday, the woman was heard saying in the viral video, "Take the blessing of Ganga yourself". However, it was not clear whether the woman was replying to the minister or talking to another woman present there. Mr Nishad, who is head of NISHAD party, an ally of the BJP, said the remark was made in a lighter vein. "I was on a visit to a flood-hit area of Nishads where while interacting with them I said that for seeking salvation, people from far away place come to take the holy dip in Ganges and here Ganga 'maiya' was right at their doorstep," the minister told PTI. "We Nishads worship rivers, our source of life and livelihoods. So the remark has its own context," the minister said. During his visit, the minister also reportedly spoke about a policeman from the Nishad community in Prayagraj whose videos of worshipping Ganga waters at his doorstep and swimming in the flood waters have gone viral. "Yes, the minister did make a mention of the Prayagraj cop as he too is a Nishad and again the reference was to merely highlight the high esteem in which Ganga maiya in particular and all other rivers in general are kept by the community," a minister's aide said. Flaying Mr Nishad's remark, Samajwadi Party spokesperson Sharvendra Bikram Singh said this shows the insensitivity of the minister. "He is not aware of the ground reality and the situation in which flood affected people are living. The state government has failed to provide relief to the people and its minister are looking for photo opportunities. At a time when people are losing their homes and livelihoods due to floods, such statements show how disconnected UP ministers are from ground reality,' Mr Singh said. The Congress dubbed Mr Nishad's remarks 'astha ka apman (insult of faith).' "Such irresponsible statements are akin to 'astha ka apman'. There are ministers who are preaching swadeshi but moving about in swanky, imported cars," UP Congress Committee chief Ajay Rai told PTI. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has constituted team of officers and ministers, who are visiting flood affected areas.
Hindustan Times
16-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Amid bird flu concerns, another big cat dies in U.P.
An Asiatic Lion Pataudi died in quarantine at the Kanpur zoo on Thursday after exhibiting signs suggestive of avian influenza. The lion had been brought to the Kanpur zoo from the Gorakhpur zoo on May 11. The death comes eight days after a tigress died at the Gorakhpur zoo. Her samples had tested positive for bird flu. In addition, the death of multiple crows at the Shaheed Ashfaqullah Khan Zoological Park in Gorakhpur has caused serious concern among forest officials. Dr Nasir (uses one name), the Kanpur zoo veterinary doctor, said, 'The lion, Pataudi, died at 8.30 am on Thursday. His body was incinerated after obtaining the samples, which have been sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NISHAD), Bhopal.' 'The report is expected,' he added. Kanpur zoo officials said Pataudi had consumed a kilogram of chicken on his arrival (at the Kanpur zoo) but had refused all food since Tuesday. He died following a period of declining health, zoo officials confirmed on Thursday. The sample of the tigress Shakti, who died in Gorakhpur on May 7, said she had bird flu. Thereafter, all zoos and the Etawah lion safari were closed in the state. Shakti's sample was tested at IVRI (Indian Veterinary Research Institute), Bareilly and National Institute of High Security Animal Disease, Bhopal. The lion had stopped eating for past two days and only drank water. He was receiving intensive veterinary treatment, including intravenous medication. 'Pataudi was brought from Junagarh (Gujarat) to the Etawah lion safari in 2019 and then from the lion safari to Gorakhpur zoo in 2021 with the lioness Mariyam. Aged 16 years, Pataudi was under treatment of an IVRI team at Gorakhpur zoo as he had lost appetite and became inactive. Mariyam died in April 2024. Since then, a behavourial change was witnessed in Pataudi,' district forest officer Vikas Yadav said. Pataudi's samples were sent to Bhopal and the test results are expected later. 'We spotted two crow carcasses in Gorakhpur zoo premises yesterday (Wednesday),' said Anuradha Vemuri, principal chief conservator of forest wildlife, Uttar Pradesh (PCCF-W, UP). Kanpur zoo ranger Naved Ikram said the behaviour and health of all other wild animals were being closely monitored and that no symptoms had been observed. Authorities have issued strict directives prohibiting entry into animal enclosures without personal protective equipment (PPE). Authorities at the Gorakhpur zoo have sent 35 samples, including those of birds and animals, to NIHSAD for tests. Gorakhpur zoo deputy director Dr Yogesh Pratap Singh reported the discovery of yet another dead crow on Thursday, along with two more carcasses found earlier—one near a mound and another near the deer enclosure. Alarmed by these repeated findings, the wildlife department has collected samples from 35 animals, including lions, deer, bears, and various birds such as spotted doves, great egrets, and bluethroats. While the exact cause of death is still under investigation, two more carcasses were discovered during a cleanup drive. Dr Yogesh Pratap Singh said that strict precautions are being implemented. 'We are conducting regular monitoring of all enclosures, and disinfection efforts have been significantly increased,' he stated. Chief veterinary officer, Gorakhpur, Dr Bhupendra Pratap Singh added that samples have also been collected from poultry sources—179 in total—and sent for testing. Results are expected within 10 days. He emphasised that poultry operators have been instructed to report any unusual signs immediately. Meanwhile, in Prayagraj, eight quick response teams (QRT) have been constituted, one each at all eight tehsil headquarters. Each team is headed by two veterinary doctors, besides trained staff of the animal husbandry department. Chief veterinary officer (CVO), Prayagraj, Dr Shivnath Yadav said the district has 108 poultry farms whose updated list is present with the department. The random sample of birds of these poultry farms comprising throat swab, blood and stool samples are being sent to IVRI, Bareilly as a precautionary measure. 'Once a sample tests positive, the result is forwarded to the state as well as central agencies monitoring the avian flu spread. A control room with the helpline number 8181813444 has also been set up for people running these poultry farms,' he added. According to Dr Shivnath Yadav, the zoonotic virus was detected in Karelabagh locality of Prayagraj on the banks of the Yamuna after several dozen crows had died in a span of five to six days in guava orchards.
