Latest news with #ApnaDal(S
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Apna Dal (S) expands base for 2027 UP Polls
The Apna Dal (Soneylal) party led by Anupriya Patel , is filling its organisational ranks with backward castes besides Kurmis, Dalits and Muslims and also giving tickets to them, as the party looks to increase its base both geographically and socially in Uttar Pradesh which is facing assembly elections in 2027. Even though it is a BJP ally , Apna Dal (S) has been giving tickets to Muslims with Anupriya stating categorically time and again that her party is different from the BJP. Eyeing to improve its tally in the 2027 assembly polls and to emerge as a pan-Uttar Pradesh force, the Apna Dal (S) is readying its social engineering strategy among the socially backward castes. The party, which is usually identified with the Kurmis in Eastern UP, has now appointed a Jatav (Dalit) as its UP unit chief and a Muslim as its youth wing head. The party has also appointed two Muslims, a Pasi (SC) and a Sahu (SC) also in its organisational team for UP. In her interactions with the top BJP leadership at the Centre and also in Uttar Pradesh, Anupriya has always highlighted issues related to the OBCs and SCs, whether it be appointment of teachers in the state or other issues. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Birla Evara 3 and 4 BHK from ₹ 1.75 Crore* Birla Estates Learn More Undo Social justice has been a major theme of the party's ideology, party leaders said as evident in the fact that out of its 13 MLAs, five are Dalits, one a Muslim, one an OBC and one from the general caste.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
In pursuit of UP poll leverage, how BJP ally Apna Dal (S) is playing the long game
Looking to expand beyond its core Kurmi base and strengthen its organisation, the Apna Dal (Soneylal) party has been making key appointments for the past month in Uttar Pradesh. On May 29, the party led by Union Minister Anupriya Patel appointed Dalit leader R P Gautam, who hails from the Jatav community, as its state president, and on June 16, it tapped Prayagraj-based youth leader Ammad Hassan to lead its youth wing. In addition to this, the party recently also appointed coordinators for each of the 403 Assembly seats in UP. Sources said the new appointments were an attempt to showcase the party's strength in the run-up to founder Sone Lal Patel's birth anniversary on July 2 and set the ball rolling for the panchayat polls in 2026. Anupriya Patel and state Cabinet Minister Ashish Patel, her husband, have been conducting monthly party meetings in Lucknow to take stock of the organisational overhaul. Anupriya has also started publicly pushing for a separate Union Ministry for OBCs and highlighted the party's strategy to reach out to various OBC communities to create a broader vote bank. Sources said the efforts were all in preparation for the 2027 polls, and the BJP ally wants to be in a position to go solo if needed and have greater bargaining power. 'We are moving strategically and trying to strengthen our party and its base. In the next few days, you will see more announcements. We are the only party in the state to have a Jatav Dalit state chief. We might not be in a position to take policy decisions directly for the Dalits and OBCs. But we are making attempts to influence policy decisions,' said a senior party leader. He also said the party's outreach efforts were visible in the issues they were backing 'We are supporting the demand for a caste-based Census, pushing for OBC reservation in central schools and NEET examinations … Our leader Anupriya Patel ji is pushing with a fresh demand for a separate OBC Ministry,' the leader said. Newly appointed state president Gautam told The Indian Express that efforts were on to expand the party and strengthen it at the grassroots. 'Our pitch will be centred on social justice and upliftment of the deprived sections,' he said. After Anupriya took over the party in 2009, Apna Dal (S) saw its best performance in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, when it won 12 seats. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Apna Dal (S) contested two seats. Patel retained her Mirzapur Lok Sabha constituency by more than 37,000 votes, but the party lost Robertsganj. In a bid to course correct, and to be on surer footing, the party dissolved all of its units and started building its organisation from scratch after the polls. On April 14, the birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar, the Apna Dal (S) launched a statewide membership drive. The panchayat polls, which are due early next year, will be the first test for the party after the revamp. Even though the panchayat polls in UP are not contested on party lines, political parties directly or indirectly extend their support to candidates. This time, the party has decided to extend support to candidates in a more official and structured manner, according to insiders.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Unlike Opposition, social justice not mere rhetoric for NDA, says Anupriya
1 2 Lucknow: Union minister and Apna Dal (S) chief Anupriya Patel on Monday said that Centre's notification for the Census exercise cleared the path for a caste-based census. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the NDA govt is ready to take yet another revolutionary step in the area of social justice," Patel posted on her X account. Patel said that, unlike the opposition, the NDA doesn't use the politics of social justice as mere rhetoric. "For us, true social justice means the economic and social empowerment of the deprived classes — this is both our policy and commitment," she said. The Apna Dal (S) president said that the NDA govt fulfilled the unrealised dream of Apna Dal (S) founder, late Dr Sonelal Patel. "He continuously fought for a caste census throughout his political journey. Inspired by his thoughts, all his followers carried this movement from the streets to Parliament. Today is a moment of immense satisfaction for all of us," she said. Patel said that the NDA govt worked on the ground to achieve the objective of social justice. This, she said, included granting constitutional status to the National OBC Commission, implementing the OBC quota in NEET-PG entrance exams, enforcing OBC reservation in admissions to Navodaya, Sainik, and central schools, resolving the 13-point roster dispute in universities, and ensuring that the benefits of welfare schemes reach the most deprived sections.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Spread party's ideology to every village and person: Anupriya tells workers
1 2 Lucknow: Union minister Anupriya Patel on Tuesday called upon Apna Dal (S) members to spread the party's ideology party to every village and every person and strengthen the organization and work with dedication Addressing a state level meeting in Lucknow, Apna Dal (S) chief said that all the workers should work in "mission mode". She said that discipline should be kept paramount in the organization. At the same time, district units should be made active. Patel urged the party workers to expand the organization by ending factionalism. She said that the roles at the district and state level should be clear. "All office bearers should work with 100% energy and participation," she said. Patel also announced the birth anniversary of party founder Sone Lal Patel on July 2 will be celebrated as "Swabhimaan Diwas". National working president and cabinet minister Ashish Patel said the party need to strengthen itself while staying away from conspiracies. He reiterated that Apna Dal (S) is the voice of social justice and is based on the principles of Bhimrao Ambedkar. Meanwhile, newly appointed state president RP Gautam was warmly welcomed by the top leaders.
