'Brahmins unite society and not divide it': BJP MLA Pathak's tweet signals rift within party over ‘caste’ politics

Panchananda Pathak’s tweet was being considered as a response to state BJP chief Pankaj Chaudhary’s warning against holding caste specific meetings.

Lucknow: Within days of Uttar Pradesh BJP leadership’s warning to the ‘Brahmin’ lawmakers of the party after they held a meeting here to discuss what some of them termed ‘marginalisation’ of the community in the caste politics of the state, a senior party leader and MLA, at whose house the meeting was held, virtually sought to challenge the leadership saying that the the community unites the society and not divide it.

‘’Brahmins are considered to be guides and thinkers in the Sanatan traditions. Wherever the Brahmins gather, there is discussion on knowledge and reason which strengthen the Hindu identity. The Brahmins unite the society and not divide it,’’ BJP lawmaker Panchananda Pathak said in a post on his ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) handle.

Pathak’s tweet was being considered as a response to state BJP chief Pankaj Chaudhary’s warning against holding caste specific meetings and remarks that such acts would be viewed as ‘indiscipline’.

Chaudhary had said that such meetings were not 'in accordance with the traditions’ of the party and asked the legislators not to fall prey to the negative and casteist politics.

Although the ‘Brahmin’ MLAs of the party, who had planned to hold another meeting here on January 5, cancelled it following the warning, Pathak’s post signaled that Chaudhary’s remarks had not been well received by the ‘Brahmin’ MLAs and that there was a division within the party on the issue.

A few Brahmin’ outfits had also slammed Chaudhary for questioning the meeting of the ‘brahmin’ lawmakers.

The meeting of the ‘Brahmin’ MLAs, came close on the heels of a similar meeting by dozens of ‘Thakur’ MLAs, who had then said that it was for the purpose of forming a ‘Kutumb’ (family) of the community legislators. As many as 50 MLAs were present at the meeting.

Some ‘Brahmin’ MLAs had said in the meeting that their community members were being ‘insulted’ and that the administration turned a blind eye to their concerns. The MLAs stressed the need to be more ‘assertive’ in the state politics.

Senior Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Singh Yadav had said that the BJP indulged in the politics of caste and that his party was ready to welcome the MLAs. ‘’They will get due respect in the SP,’’ Yadav had said.