The BJP held a brainstorming session with OBC core group in Delhi to counter the opposition’s issue of conducting a caste census. Led by BJP National President JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the meeting resulted in a strategic decision. In the forthcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP plans to allocate a higher number of tickets to candidates from backward communities. To identify suitable candidates for this purpose, the task will be entrusted to the OBC Morcha.
Empowering backward classes and communities
In an effort to empower Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes and women ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP will organise conferences for backward communities in every district of Uttar Pradesh. These conferences will be known as ‘Social Conferences’ and are scheduled to begin shortly after the festival of Diwali.
Notable attendees at the meeting include Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya, State President Bhupendra Chaudhary, and Sangam Lal Gupta, the National General Secretary of the OBC Cell.
BJP’s engagement with artisans from backward classes
Furthermore, the BJP has initiated dialogues with traditional artisans and craftsmen from backward classes. These artisans, including weavers, barbers, blacksmiths, tailors, goldsmiths, Rajmistri (masons), fishermen, potters, and more, belong to approximately 18 different communities within the backward class category.
Vishwakarma Samman Yojana for artisans
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has introduced the ‘Vishwakarma Samman Yojana’ to support these artisans. The scheme offers loans of up to Rs 3 lakh and a toolkit incentive of Rs 15,000. Union Minister B.L. Verma is entrusted with implementing this scheme in Uttar Pradesh, with plans to extend its benefits to every district. Social dialogues will be conducted in each district with backward communities to explain the advantages of this scheme. The BJP’s multi-faceted approach aims to address the concerns of different communities, promote inclusivity, and ensure equal representation in the upcoming elections.