Rajbhar Claims Purvanchal Post Amid UP Split Proposal
Rajbhar Claims Purvanchal Post Amid UP Split Proposal
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Key Points
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Rajbhar said the proposed division is part of a debate dating back decades and noted that B.R. Ambedkar had suggested dividing Uttar Pradesh into three smaller states in his 1955 book, “Thoughts on Linguistic States.”
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Rajbhar said a caste census should be used not only to consider state reorganisation but also to determine how the 27% reservation for backward classes is distributed, particularly to communities that have received fewer benefits.
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At the Deoria rally, Rajbhar sought to reinforce his community’s political identity, saying that the yellow scarf worn by his party’s supporters makes them recognisable as Rajbhars and that he had given them that identity.
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Rajbhar has made the Purvanchal demand before, including in March, when he argued that a separate state would improve representation and accelerate development in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
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He criticised the Congress, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party in more specific terms, accusing Congress of ruling for 60 years and the SP and BSP of each holding power four times without delivering meaningful gains for poor, deprived and backward communities.
Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar has revived a decades-old proposal to split the state into four regions: Purvanchal, Madhyanchal, Bundelkhand, and Harit Pradesh. The Hans India reports that Rajbhar, who leads the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, made the division a condition for future electoral alliances—and staked a personal claim to becoming the first chief minister of Purvanchal.
Speaking at rallies in Ambedkar Nagar and Deoria, Rajbhar claimed Prime Minister Modi had linked state reorganization decisions to a caste census, though The Hindu notes the government has not independently confirmed this account. His push comes as parties gear up for Uttar Pradesh's 2027 Assembly elections.
A Demand With Deep Historical Roots
The proposal to divide Uttar Pradesh is not new. Tribune India reports that B.R. Ambedkar suggested splitting the state into three smaller states in his 1955 book, "Thoughts on Linguistic States." Rajbhar frames the current push as part of a longstanding debate about creating administratively and politically manageable regions in India's most populous state.
Rajbhar has previously argued that a separate Purvanchal state would improve representation and accelerate development in eastern Uttar Pradesh. India's News reports that he now calls the division "inevitable" rather than merely desirable, positioning himself as the natural leader for the proposed eastern region.
Caste Census as a Tool for Reservation Redistribution
Rajbhar has tied state reorganization to a broader push for a caste census. He argues the census should determine how the 27% reservation for backward classes is distributed among communities that have historically received fewer benefits. The Hindu reports this connects the state-division proposal to longstanding debates over equitable representation within existing reservation frameworks.
The SBSP chief's framing links regional autonomy to resource allocation—suggesting that a separate Purvanchal would allow communities in eastern Uttar Pradesh to secure a larger share of backward-class reservations. This approach appeals to his core voter base while pressuring the BJP coalition to commit to both state division and caste census implementation.
Building Political Identity Ahead of 2027 Elections
At the Deoria rally, Rajbhar reinforced community identity by invoking symbols. India's News reports that he told supporters their yellow scarves make them recognizable as Rajbhars, claiming he had given his community that distinct political identity. The message targets his core constituency while positioning the SBSP as the sole champion of eastern UP interests.
Rajbhar has also sharpened attacks on opposition parties. Hindustan Times reports he accused Congress of governing for 60 years and the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party of each holding power four times without delivering meaningful gains for poor and backward communities. These barbs are designed to position his alliance with the BJP as the only credible voice for eastern Uttar Pradesh.
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