The MPs, drawn from diverse social backgrounds, including Brahmins, Scheduled Castes and OBCs, shared constituency-level assessments during meetings held over the past few days, including amid protests over the NEET issue. Sources said the discussions largely centred on the political mood, organisational challenges and policy interventions that could strengthen BJP’s position ahead of the election. Several MPs stressed the need to reinforce the party’s social coalition among non-Yadav OBCs while ensuring that the cadre, from the tehsil level upwards, remains engaged, heard and motivated.
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Against the backdrop of the recent UGC and NEET controversies, resentment among sections of upper-caste voters also figured in the discussions. MPs also flagged the alleged Ram temple funds embezzlement issue and said caste considerations have become more pronounced in UP’s electoral landscape than during the last assembly election, when the BJP’s campaign was anchored around law and order, free-ration welfare and its trademark Hindutva plank.
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Even so, leaders maintained that BJP has not lost ground and that the state government has a good track record on law and order. The exercise is aimed at addressing emerging concerns well ahead of the polls rather than responding to any erosion of the party’s core vote.
