The Bharatiya Janata Party's leadership in Uttar Pradesh has publicly cautioned its legislators against holding meetings based on caste identity. This stern warning is seen as a strategic move to prevent caste-based factionalism from weakening the party's unity in the crucial run-up to the 2027 state Assembly elections.
The Trigger: A Brahmin Legislators' Gathering
The warning was issued directly by the newly-appointed UP BJP president, Pankaj Chaudhary, on Thursday, December 27, 2025. It came in response to a meeting held two days earlier, where several of the party's Brahmin MLAs and MLCs gathered at the Lucknow residence of Kushinagar MLA P N Pathak. The agenda reportedly involved discussions on perceived bias against the Brahmin community in the state.
Chaudhary declared the meeting as "against the party’s constitution and values" and stated that any repetition would be treated as an act of indiscipline. Party insiders revealed that the gathering, organized over a traditional "baati chokha" dinner, was intended as a show of strength by Brahmin legislators from eastern UP. Notably, a few lawmakers from the Bhumihar and Kurmi communities also attended.
A Pattern of Internal Factionalism
Sources indicate that the Brahmin legislators' meeting was not an isolated incident. Earlier on the same Tuesday, another group of BJP MLAs and office-bearers from western Uttar Pradesh convened for lunch at a Lucknow hotel. This gathering was perceived to consist of opponents of a senior Jat leader from the region. However, it avoided public scrutiny as no photographs surfaced.
The Brahmin meeting, however, gained traction after a list containing names and contact details of participating MLAs and MLCs, intended for a WhatsApp group, went viral on social media. This public airing of internal grouping greatly upset the BJP's central leadership and also drew displeasure from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's office. Senior leaders subsequently contacted the involved legislators to reprimand them.
Strategic Move to Curb Ticket Bargaining
According to party analysts, the public warning is a preemptive strike to stop the formation of caste-based pressure groups. Such factions could later demand tickets for elections or ministerial positions during the 2027 polls, potentially damaging the party's carefully crafted social coalition. A BJP leader referenced the resentment within the Thakur community over ticket distribution, which hurt the party in several UP seats during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections despite damage-control efforts.
Interestingly, an informal gathering of Thakur MLAs had also taken place in Lucknow in August 2025. When asked why no warning was issued then, a leader explained that the party was preoccupied with organisational elections at the time. Now, with a new state president in place, the leadership is acting decisively to stop the formation of special caste groups within its ranks.
The warning also stems from practical concerns. At a time when all party MPs and MLAs have been directed to supervise the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the caste-based meeting on a separate issue diverted media attention and gave fresh ammunition to opposition parties.
Political Reactions and Caste Arithmetic
The incident quickly sparked reactions from opposition camps. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav took a dig at the BJP on social media platform X, suggesting the party was kind to its own but warning others. He accused the BJP government of offering "maati dhoka (dust and betrayal)" instead of development. State Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajpoot accused the BJP of divisive politics, alleging a double standard where Thakur meetings were acceptable but Brahmin gatherings were not.
The caste composition of the BJP's UP legislature party underscores the sensitivity of the issue. Of its 258 MLAs, 84 are from OBCs, 59 from Scheduled Castes, 45 are Thakurs, 42 are Brahmins, and 28 belong to other upper castes. Among 79 MLCs, 26 are OBCs, 23 Thakurs, 14 Brahmins, 2 SCs, 2 Muslims, and 12 from other upper castes.
This is not the first time the party has addressed Brahmin concerns. In December 2021, ahead of the 2022 polls, the BJP formed a four-member committee to devise strategies to woo the Brahmin community, following feedback that opposition parties were successfully highlighting issues of perceived disrespect and lack of representation.
The public warning from the state BJP chief is a clear signal that the party high command is intent on maintaining discipline and a united front, prioritizing collective electoral strategy over caste-centric lobbying as the countdown to the 2027 battle begins.
