Why Shakya voters matter in Brajbhoomi

AGRA: In the political corridors of the Braj region in western Uttar Pradesh, discussions are buzzing about caste dynamics, particularly the influence of the Shakya community on the BJP-SP tussle.
This sway extends to Etah where the community has significant presence as well as other constituencies like Mainpuri, Fatehpur Sikri, and Firozabad, where Shakya voters can significantly disrupt electoral equations.
Such is the community’s dominance that BJP’s — and before that Jan Sangh’s — Mahadeepak Singh Shakya won the Etah seat six times between 1977 and 1998. Here, BJP’s Rajveer Singh, son of former chief minister Kalyan Singh, is contesting for the third time against Samajwadi Party (SP)’s Devesh Shakya. This contest is crucial as Shakya voters, numbering over 1.8 lakh, play a pivotal role.
BJP aims to reinforce the narrative that the Prime Minister is invested in the well-being of Shakya voters.
Local BJP leaders are intensifying their outreach, highlighting their direct connection with voters, including a recent interaction between a booth-level worker and Prime Minister Modi. Ranjeet Shakya, a booth-level worker, emphasised, “Not only local BJP leaders but also the PM is directly connected with the Shakyas.”
Conversely, Devesh emphasises his broad-based support and criticises BJP for treating Shakya voters as mere electoral assets. “People from the Shakya community are my family members. They have realised that BJP sees them only as a vote bank,” Devesh said.Similarly, in Mainpuri, Fatehpur Sikri, and Firozabad, parties vie for Shakya votes, recognising their significance in shaping electoral outcomes. In Firozabad, a constituency historically represented by SP, electoral surprises are not uncommon, as seen in the 2009 by-election.In Mainpuri, Yadav voters form the majority, followed by Shakya voters. BJP has fielded tourism minister Jayveer Singh, and BSP has nominated former MLA Shiv Prasad as candidates.
SP’s Dimple Yadav, the incumbent MP, is again in the fray. All three parties are engaged in efforts to court the Shakyas.The Fatehpur Sikri constituency has an estimated 1.4 lakh Shakya voters. BJP’s incumbent MP Rajkumar Chahar, Congress’s ex-army jawan Ramnath Singh Sikarwar, and BSP’s Ram Niwas Sharma are all vying for Shakya support.
With a legacy of representation by the SP from 1999 to 2009, the Firozabad seat has witnessed a dynamic political landscape. The by-election in 2009 saw Congress candidate Raj Babbar defeating Dimple Yadav, signalling the region’s penchant for electoral surprises.