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India Today
07-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Can BJP keep dissent-hit, peeved ally Apna Dal (S) in embrace?
Uttar Pradesh regional outfit Apna Dal (S), in a show of strength last week, lined up all its MLAs and senior leaders on stage to mark the birth anniversary of party founder Sone Lal Patel. At the July 3 event in Lucknow, party vice-president and state minister Ashish Patel not only targeted rebels, who had recently broken away, but also fired indirect salvos at ally open demonstration of power has sparked speculation about the Apna Dal (S) preparing to exit the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and whether it will join the Opposition combine for the assembly elections in party is in a crisis after some founding members and leaders, led by Brajendra Pratap Singh, recently announced a new outfit, 'Apna Morcha', and claimed the support of nine of the 13 Apna Dal (S) Apna Dal (S), which is headed by Union minister and Ashish Patel's wife Anupriya Patel, hit back, saying these leaders had been expelled back in 2022 for anti-party activity. However, the new front went a step further, declaring it would field candidates in the upcoming panchayat polls and support the NDA in the Uttar Pradesh assembly mounting, Apna Dal (S) state president R.P. Gautam wrote to chief minister Yogi Adityanath to remove the rebel leaders and their relatives from government-nominated posts in order to restore mutual trust in the there has been growing talk that after indirectly targeting the BJP, Ashish Patel may step down as the state's technical education minister. At the event on July 3—attended by 12 of the 13 party MLAs—he had questioned the BJP's commitment to the alliance. He alleged a conspiracy against Apna Dal (S) because of its growing support base and warned of attempts to destabilise the party, including through false legal next day, Ashish Patel quit as Apna Dal (S) working president and was appointed national vice-president, adding to more speculation about the equation within the Patel, in her message, urged Apna Dal (S) workers to stay prepared, saying that the coming days would be crucial. In a pushback to the dissenters, she underlined that the party remained united and firm on its the BJP, the timing and public nature of the rift could pose a challenge. The Apna Dal (S) has been one of its most reliable allies in attracting Kurmi OBC votes in Uttar Pradesh. Kurmis are about 6 per cent of the population of Uttar Pradesh and comprise about 35 per cent of the OBCs in the Apna Dal (S) was formed in 1995 by Sone Lal Patel, also a founding member of the Bahujan Samaj Party, to champion Kurmi representation. He died in 2009. Anupriya first became Union minister in the Narendra Modi government in 2016. Ashish Patel is its own minister in the Adityanath the longstanding association, open attacks on the BJP by senior Apna Dal (S) leaders, internal rebellion and past family disputes risk weakening the equation. As the Apna Dal (S) prepares for assembly elections two years away while signalling frustration with its partner, the BJP faces the delicate task of keeping its ally in embrace without letting these tensions affect its own image among OBC voters in the state. advertisementSubscribe to India Today Magazine- EndsMust Watch
Indian Express
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
As a rebel faction crops up, BJP's UP ally Apna Dal (S) faces a test
One of BJP's key allies in Uttar Pradesh, the Apna Dal (Soneylal) finds itself in a tough spot in the state because of a rebel faction that has floated a separate outfit. On Tuesday, a day before party founder Sone Lal Patel's birth anniversary, former Apna Dal (S) workers led by Chaudhary Brajendra Pratap announced the formation of the Apna Morcha. In response, the party led by Union Minister of State Anupriya Patel said those associated with the new front had been expelled in 2022 for 'anti-party activities'. The rebels have claimed the support of 'all party MLAs' and said they would field candidates in the panchayat polls next year and support the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the 2027 Assembly polls. The Apna Dal (S) has been an NDA ally since 2014. On Wednesday morning, Apna Dal (S) state president R P Gautam wrote to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath seeking the immediate removal of the rebel leaders and their relatives from nominated government posts. He claimed they were re-appointed recently without taking the Apna Dal (S) into confidence. As per his letter, Monika Arya, the wife of Brajendra Pratap Singh, is the Additional Government Advocate for the state administration, while Arvind Bauddh, another rebel leader, is a member of the Purvanchal Development Board. Gautam requested the CM to remove them from their posts to establish 'mutual trust' and protect his party's interests. This, he said, was necessary to 'maintain dignity' and 'strengthen the feeling of trust and transparency towards the NDA alliance among the workers of Apna Dal (S)'. However, party leaders said the rebels would not be a threat on the ground. Apna Dal (S) leader and state minister Ashish Patel told The Indian Express: 'These leaders (rebels) were expelled by the party three years ago. This front is part of a bigger conspiracy that keeps cropping up when we plan something big organisationally. These people have no political base.' But many in the Apna Dal (S) said the rebels could slow the momentum the party had seemed to have picked up in the last couple of weeks. In May, the party made some key appointments and rejigged its organisation. This was an attempt to showcase the party's strength in the run-up to Sone Lal Patel's birth anniversary and set the ball rolling for the panchayat polls. Anupriya and Ashish have also been conducting monthly party meetings in Lucknow to take stock of the organisational overhaul, with the Union MoS also starting to push for a separate Union Ministry for OBCs, underlining the party's strategy to reach out to various OBC communities and create a broader vote bank. The Apna Dal (S) recorded its best performance in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, when it won 12 seats. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, it contested two seats, with Anupriya retaining her Mirzapur Lok Sabha seat by more than 37,000 votes. The party, however, lost from Robertsganj.
Indian Express
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Rebel faction crops up, BJP ally Apna Dal (S) faces test
One of BJP's key allies in Uttar Pradesh, the Apna Dal (Soneylal) finds itself in a tough spot in the state because of a rebel faction that has floated a separate outfit. On Tuesday, a day before party founder Sone Lal Patel's birth anniversary, former Apna Dal (S) workers led by Brajendra Pratap Singh announced the formation of the Apna Morcha. Singh claims to be the convener of the rebel outfit. In response, the party led by Union Minister of State Anupriya Patel said those associated with the new front had been expelled in 2022 for 'anti-party activities'. The rebels have claimed the support of 'all party MLAs' and said they would field candidates in the panchayat polls next year and support the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the 2027 Assembly polls. The Apna Dal (S) has been an NDA ally since 2014. On Wednesday morning, Apna Dal (S) state president R P Gautam wrote to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath seeking the immediate removal of the rebel leaders and their relatives from nominated government posts. He claimed they were re-appointed recently without taking the Apna Dal (S) into confidence. As per his letter, Monika Arya, the wife of Brajendra Pratap Singh, is the Additional Government Advocate for the state administration, while Arvind Bauddh, another rebel leader, is a member of the Purvanchal Development Board. Gautam requested the CM to remove them from their posts to establish 'mutual trust' and protect his party's interests. This, he said, was necessary to 'maintain dignity' and 'strengthen the feeling of trust and transparency towards the NDA alliance among the workers of Apna Dal (S)'. However, party leaders said the rebels would not be a threat on the ground. Apna Dal (S) leader and state minister Ashish Patel told The Indian Express: 'These leaders (rebels) were expelled by the party three years ago. This front is part of a bigger conspiracy that keeps cropping up when we plan something big organisationally. These people have no political base.' But many in the Apna Dal (S) said the rebels could slow the momentum the party had seemed to have picked up in the last couple of weeks. In May, the party made some key appointments and rejigged its organisation. This was an attempt to showcase the party's strength in the run-up to Sone Lal Patel's birth anniversary and set the ball rolling for the panchayat polls. Anupriya and Ashish have also been conducting monthly party meetings in Lucknow to take stock of the organisational overhaul, with the Union MoS also starting to push for a separate Union Ministry for OBCs, underlining the party's strategy to reach out to various OBC communities and create a broader vote bank. The Apna Dal (S) recorded its best performance in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, when it won 12 seats. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, it contested two seats, with Anupriya retaining her Mirzapur Lok Sabha seat by more than 37,000 votes. The party, however, lost from Robertsganj.
Hindustan Times
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Change is on the cards in 2027 UP assembly polls: Pallavi Patel
Apna Dal (Kameravadi) leader and Sirathu MLA Pallavi Patel on Wednesday said that change is on the cards in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, pointing to what she described as growing dissatisfaction among Dalits, Muslims, and backward communities with the current government. The Sirathu MLA from Kaushambi district contested the 2022 assembly elections on a Samajwadi Party ticket (File Photo) Speaking at Kamera Samman Diwas held in Ayodhya to mark the birth anniversary of her father and Apna Dal founder Dr Sone Lal Patel, Pallavi Patel said a caste-based census remains a long-standing demand of her late father and the party. She pledged to ensure the findings of such a census include meaningful participation from marginalised communities. 'Today we have gathered here to honour the legacy of Dr Sone Lal Patel, who always stood for the dignity of the Kamera community,' she said. 'Across the country, there are people who are trying to take away our voting rights, which have been granted to us by the Constitution. These elements are endangering our future.' 'In the 2027 assembly polls, there will be a change in the system and the current regime. Those who truly deserve to be in power will have the opportunity. This is the reality that today Dalits, backwards and Muslims are in a pitiable condition in the state and that is why a change in governance is required,' she claimed. The Sirathu MLA from Kaushambi district, who contested the 2022 assembly elections on a Samajwadi Party ticket and defeated deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya in one of the most high-profile contests of the polls, reiterated that the present condition of Dalits, backward classes, and Muslims in Uttar Pradesh calls for a change in leadership. Calling the Kamera community's assertion a 'revolution', Pallavi said the movement goes beyond caste and speaks to the rights of the common people. 'This revolution is about dignity, recognition, and rightful participation,' she told the gathering.
