UP election 2022: Why the fight for Nishad votes in Uttar Pradesh may benefit BJP

Amid the growing rivalry between two prominent leaders of the Nishad community in Uttar Pradesh, it might be advantage BJP in the 2022 UP assembly election.

Nishad leader and Bihar minister Mukesh Sahani has said that his Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) will contest 165 Assembly seats in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh election.Mukesh Sahani wants to install Nishad caste leader Phoolan Devi’s bust in 18 districts of Uttar Pradesh. The UP MP was killed in 2001 by assailants, who said they wanted to avenge the deaths of people she killed as “bandit queen”.Sahani's political ambition has become a threat to UP’s Nishad Party headed by Sanjay Nishad.The VIP alleged that the party’s posters and banners were torn by the police in Varanasi on Sunday and its workers were prevented from gathering.Mukesh Sahani is believed to be eyeing the votes of the Nishad (Mallah) community that constitutes seven per cent of UP’s electorate. ALSO READ | 'If they'll hurt us, then...': Nishad party chief demands UP deputy CM post, warns BJP