The politics of reservation has begun in right earnest in Uttar Pradesh where elections are barely a few months away.
UP chief minister Mayawati’s two letters to the Prime Minister, seeking reservation for Muslims and economically-weaker sections among upper
castes, are clear indications that the BSP is all set to promote caste politics in the coming elections through the politics of reservation.
On Monday, the chief minister wrote another letter to the Prime Minister, demanding the inclusion of jats in the central OBC list.
The BSP, obviously, wants to consolidate Muslims support in its favour by supporting reservation for the minorities. Ms Mayawati has very shrewdly
put the ball in the court of the Congress with her letter to the Prime Minister and she can now use the issue in elections to berate the Congress
and chip away at the latter’s growing support base among Muslims.
The Congress has been quick to realise the BSP game plan and union law minister Salman Khurshid said that the centre was exploring the possibility
of giving reservation to Muslims. Significantly, his statement came exactly a day after Ms Mayawati wrote the letter to the Prime Minister.
Ms Mayawati’s demand for Muslim reservation has also rattled the Samajwadi Party which banks heavily on minority votes. Though the Samajwadis have
termed Ms Mayawati’s move on Muslim reservation as an election gimmick, there is serious rethinking being done within the party on how to counter
the BSP move. Senior SP leader Azam Khan on Monday questioned the BSP’s intention with regard to Muslims and cited several instances to prove his
point. On the other hand, by demanding reservation on economic basis for upper castes, the CM has made a renewed effort to consolidate her vote
bank among Brahmins.