All contenders like BSP, SP BJP and Congress eye Brahmin votebank in Uttar Pradesh

NEW DELHI: There's an unprecedented clamour for Brahmin votes with three of the four main parties — namely, BJP, BSP and Congress — trying to woo the caste that constitutes around 11 per cent of the electorate and is the third biggest chunk after Muslims and Dalits.
Brahmin voters may not have the same pride of place in BSP supremo Mayawati's scheme of things now as she courts Dalits and Muslims to reach the magic figure in the Assembly, yet her party has decided to hold over 30 rallies in reserved constituencies to woo the Brahmins. BSP's social engineering formula that helped it sweep the polls in 2007 is no longer a potent one as Brahmins have moved to the BJP but the party feels it still needs the caste on its side wherever possible.

BSP fared badly in the reserved seats as well during the Lok Sabha polls where it drew a blank- and hence the party feels it needs to convince other castes- especially Brahmins- to vote for its Dalit candidates.

However, Brahmins and other upper castes are unhappy with Mayawati raking up the reservation in promotion issue. An indication of Brahmins not being very hopeful about BSP came when Brajesh Pathak- a senior Brahmin leader of BSP- joined BJP recently. At 11 per cent, Brahmins are the third largest caste group after Dalits (21 per cent) and Muslims (18 per cent).

Congress is leaving no stone unturned to win over the Brahmins- a caste that was loyal to it during the Indira Gandhi years. Leaders like Kamlapati Tripathi and N D Tiwari- as well as Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna till he fell out with Sanjay Gandhi- were among the prominent Brahmin faces in the Congress.

Guided by Prashant Kishor, Congress is now trying to woo back the Brahmins by declaring Sheila Dikshit its CM face. But if LS polls are any indication, Brahmins appear to be largely with the BJP. It has kept the Ram temple issue alive and feels Brahmins have little option but to support the BJP as it is disenchanted with BSP and Congress. Though BJP is not projecting any Brahmin leader, it is careful not to take any step that would alienate this caste group.