After making the headlines recently for hosting a meeting of the BJP’s backward classes allies from Uttar Pradesh in Delhi – where the BJP itself was absent while the RLD, SBSP and Apna Dal (S) were present – NISHAD Party chief Sanjay Nishad issued a warning to the BJP to either trust its allies or snap ties with them. In an interview with The Indian Express, Nishad, who is also a minister in the Yogi Adityanath Cabinet, spoke about the relationship between the BJP and its NDA allies, and areas of concern ahead of the 2027 UP Assembly polls, among other issues. Excerpts:
The Delhi event was our party event and we had invited all the NDA partners including the BJP. It so happened that none from the BJP could attend but it turned into an event having actual PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) representation.
However, our attack was on the Opposition only for their fake PDA call. None had expected that kind of crowd for us in Delhi. Hum log vipaksha ke farzi PDA ke khilaf hain… Chattan ki tarah khare ho gaye (We stood like a mountain against the Opposition’s fake PDA).
Some in the BJP might have had apprehensions that people might say something uncomfortable from the dais but everyone spoke to target the Opposition and stand for the values of PDA, be it us, (Apna Dal-S leader) Ashish (Patel) ji, (SBSP leader Om Prakash) Rajbhar ji or RLD leaders. We are sure there will be proper representation of the BJP in our next event.
Such a big thing has been accomplished for the NDA through the Delhi meet. Despite the Opposition winning in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls (in UP) and the way it was misleading the public on PDA, with little resources we raised our PDA voices from ‘Tal to Talkatora (Underground to Talkatora stadium in Delhi)’.
While we allies stood against the fake PDA of the Opposition to showcase that actual PDA is with the NDA, there were some leaders within the BJP who were speaking against its own allies… So pain is bound to come.
* You did not invite Chief Minister Adityanath to the Delhi event, and then later in his Gorakhpur constituency you asked the BJP to either trust allies or snap ties. What led to that situation?
I had met Maharaj (Adityanath) before the Delhi event. He has been there at our events in the past but as the event was in Delhi, it was thought to invite BJP leaders in Delhi like Amit Shah ji and others but it so happened they had other engagements.
As far as what I said in Gorakhpur, it was blown out of proportion. Whatever is happening against allies is the result of some outsiders, I call them “ghuspaithiya netas (intruders)” within the BJP.
In my case, some of these “chhutbhaiya netas (minor leaders)” were seen throwing away our flag in Gorakhpur or telling the public that my family was taking the cream rather than working towards reservation for the community. All this was damaging not just for us, but also the NDA.
* Earlier, you praised and supported the BJP, before raising the issues of NDA allies. What changed?
The BJP is such a big party, itna chhota kaam nahi karegi (it would not do petty things). It is all because of imported leaders, who are intruders. The loss in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in UP was because of these leaders, their statements. There were places where the BJP lost in booths that were considered strongholds for decades.
They (BJP) would have to understand hum competitor nahi hain BJP ke, ek jati competitor nahi ho sakti (we allies are not competitors of the BJP, those representing one caste or community cannot be competitors).
I had raised the issues of these small leaders with BJP but these leaders continued to speak ill of us. I never spoke ill of either Yogi ji or (Narendra) Modi ji. When (Adityanath) called me at his official residence in Lucknow I went there. He asked me who these leaders were and assured me that he would soon organise a meeting.
* As the 2027 Assembly elections are nearing, differences are rising within the NDA. Do allies see these issues being resolved before the next polls?
What NDA allies in UP need right now is a samanvyak (coordinator). It could be one person or more than one person. We cannot approach Yogi ji or Amit Shah ji every time with small issues. There could be one meeting for this coordination.
Such meetings used to take place earlier in Delhi till the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, when we used to be called, but not now. While those like (Apna Dal-S chief) Anupriya (Patel) ji or (RLD chief) Jayant (Chaudhary) ji, who are in Delhi have options, those like me or Rajbhar ji are unable to do so. We strongly believe there should be a coordinator in UP, whom allies can approach for small issues.
We just want state-level meetings where alliance partners can sit and discuss. Kuch chahiye nahi biradari ko kewal samman (All our community wants is respect). Everyone would have to understand that the 2027 UP elections are going to be fought on constitutional rights.
* Why do you think constitutional rights will be an issue in the 2027 polls?
We lost the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in UP in the name of a fight for the Constitution – wrong statements by some leaders like those in Ayodhya triggered these sentiments. The next election in UP is going to be in the name of constitutional rights and we have to be ready for it.
Desh Samvidhan se chalega… sirf Bhagwan se to chalega nahi. Hum dharmik hain, par samvaidhanik adhikar alag vishay hai (The country runs on the Constitution, not just with God. We are religious, but constitutional rights are a separate issue).
The Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) got their share (in reservations)… and now the Most Backward Classes (MBCs) also want their constitutional rights and this is going to be the main issue in the next polls.
Moreover, after upper castes were given 10% reservation, it is again and again sending the message among MBCs that apna de diya, humara diya nahi (they looked after themselves but neglected us). While MBC children, despite being deprived, are paying their fees, SCs are not only exempt from paying free but are also getting scholarships.
