2009 -- India Election -

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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Brahmins return to prominence
pioneer.com
Biswajeet Banerjee | Maharajganj
Brahmins are the flavour of this Lok Sabha election in eastern Uttar Pradesh, where this upper caste has emerged as the king-maker. Political parties have suddenly turned their eyes on Brahmins as their saviours.

Any dhoti-kurta clad person with a vermilion ‘tika’ on his forehead or a ‘choti’ has become a revered figure. <b>Mishras, Sharmas, Dubeys, Tripathis, Chaturvedis and Pandeys are as important as Siddiquis, Ansaris, Khans, Rizvis, Bashars and Sayyeds of this region</b>.

<b>The arithmetic suggests that of the 16 constituencies that would vote on April 16, the party whom Brahmins would support en masse would win. “This is no exaggeration. It is a political reality now. If you want to win an election, get Brahmin votes because their votes can make all the difference</b>,” KR Singh, a teacher in Gorakhpur University, told The Pioneer. He said Brahmins have emerged as a major vote bank. There are at least six constituencies in eastern UP where Brahmin votes would be a deciding factor, Singh added.

Mishra Lassi Shop at the Maharajganj bus stop is the hub of political activity. “The BSP has not done anything for Brahmins. The Dalit-Brahmin solidarity is only on papers. Chief Minister Mayawati has opened the Government exchequer for Dalits but has not taken any decision to help the poor Brahmins,” said Amit Mishra, a shop owner.

As the discussion continues, some passersby join in.<b> “I am told that statues of those Dalit leaders have been put up in Lucknow who openly castigated Brahmins,”</b> Sudhir Pandey, an advocate, said.

One of the BSP sympathisers objects, saying, “But there are at least a dozen Brahmin Ministers in Mayawati’s Cabinet.” Others object and a head count of Brahmin Ministers starts as more people join the debate.

Ever since the Mayawati-led BSP rode to power capitalising on Dalit-Brahmin solidarity, Brahmins have been much sought after. Mayawati’s formula of Dalit-Brahmin synergy is being given a practical shape in this election.

To replicate the Assembly success, BSP’s Brahmin face Satish Chandra Mishra toured the Brahmin-dominated regions and held Brahmin ‘bhaichara sammelans’. Three of such meetings were held between January and February in eastern Uttar Pradesh alone.

If Mayawati reminds the Brahmins about the respect her party has bestowed upon them, Samajwadi Party chief <b>Mulayam Singh Yadav talks about the ‘apmaan’ (insult) Brahmins have suffered in Maya raj. “Brahmins, the repositories of knowledge, have been reduced to a vote bank,” </b>Mulayam said at a rally the other day on the outskirts of Gorakhpur.

<b>BJP’s Kalraj Mishra is talking about the ‘swabhimaan’ of Brahmins and reminding them of the BSP’s slogan: “Tilak, tarazu aur Talwar, maaro inko joote chaar.” </b>

“Post-Mandal, it is for the first time that Brahmins are in such a demand,” Pramod Mishra, a retired teacher in Nichlol in Maharajganj district, said.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->