More than the caste equations in the upcoming UP Assembly elections, the expansion of the Union Cabinet on Tuesday is a moment to celebrate for the women in the state.
More than the caste equations in the upcoming UP Assembly elections, the expansion of the Union Cabinet on Tuesday is a moment to celebrate for the women in the state.
The induction of Ms Anupriya Patel and Ms Krishna Raj in the Union Cabinet has finally provided a voice to women, especially among the OBCs and dalits.
The BJP, sources said, will be using these two women ministers to reach out to women in the OBC and dalit communities.
Women in these sections of society have not been addressed by other political parties so far and the BJP now wants to tap this section.
“Both the newly-inducted ministers will be touring and addressing meetings in areas having a sizeable OBC and dalit population,” a BJP leader said.
Ms Anupriya Patel, 35, belongs to the Kurmi community and is the daughter of the late Dr Sonela Patel who had broken away from the BSP to form his Apna Dal. Her emergence at the national level will not only blunt the influence of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, but also that of SP MP Beni Prasad Varma.
The Apna Dal, to which Anupriya belongs, has a strong Kurmi following and this is the first time that a woman leader has emerged from the ranks in the community that forms the second-largest chunk after Yadavs in the OBC group.
“I have a commitment to my people — a commitment that my father made — and I want to fulfil his wishes. I may be new in politics but it is my belief in my principles that has got me here,” she said.
Ms Krishna Raj, 46, is perhaps the only dalit woman to have reached this far from UP — second only, perhaps, to BSP president Mayawati.
A two-term legislator and now MP from Shahjahanpur, she belongs to the Pasi community and wields considerable influence in western UP. Her presence will help the BJP in making inroads among dalits in the region.
