Uttar Pradesh Minister Sanjay Nishad states that his party’s alliance with the BJP ahead of the 2027 elections depends on securing reservations for his community. He parted ways with the Samajwadi Party after it ignored demands on this key issue.
Shift from Samajwadi Party
Nishad explains his departure from the Samajwadi Party, noting it failed to address reservation concerns. “I was with the Samajwadi Party. They closed the door on me, so I had to leave. They did not raise even a single question on my issue of reservation,” he says. “The issue of reservations is my party’s priority. The issue of the Tal-Ghat rivers, the education of our De-notified Tribes (Vimukt Janjati), these issues lie with the Central and State governments.”
Praise for BJP’s Initiatives
The minister highlights the BJP’s efforts to honor the Nishad community’s heritage. Officials previously viewed the party as opposed to reservations, but actions like granting 10% quota to upper castes and 33% to women have changed that perception.
“They are doing great things; they built the Nishadraj temple and the Ram temple. If Modi Ji is showing respect, chanting Jai Nishadraj, and honouring our historical heritage, and has made arrangements to bring our people into the mainstream of development by creating a separate Ministry of Fisheries, then I believe we should stick with them,” Nishad adds.
Reservation as Core Condition
Nishad positions himself as the chief advocate for reservations and urges the BJP to act. “The question of moving will only arise if the BJP closes its doors. It is the BJP that has to provide the answer because I am the advocate for reservation; I advocate for it. The BJP has to answer when it will grant the reservation. They are working on it, and they are doing big things, so I believe they will do it.”
He confirms the current alliance: “As of today, my party is with the BJP. I have said this before as well. Last time, everyone else had left, but when the Honourable Home Minister called, I told him that I am a descendant of Nishadraj and a friend of Lord Ram. We are dignified people who practice dignified politics. We belong to a community with a glorious history.”
Mythological Ties to BJP Ideology
Drawing from ancient lore, Nishad links the BJP to the enduring friendship between Lord Ram and Nishadraj from the Treta Yuga. “To restore that glorious history, if the BJP follows the ideology of Ram, then they are following the ideology of Nishadraj as well; both were friends. This is a friendship from the Treta Yuga. Now the BJP must prove that friendship.”
He compares his party’s support to Nishadraj’s army aiding Ram against Ravana: “Just as Ram was with Nishadraj, and Nishadraj provided his army to Ram to defeat Ravana, we have also consistently provided our ‘army’ (support) to the BJP to give them victories since 2019. I believe the BJP should think about that.”
