Opinion | Why Akhilesh Yadav Is Suddenly Betting On Brahmins In Uttar Pradesh

Updated: Aug 12, 2026 12:37 pm IST Published On Aug 12, 2026 12:27 pm IST Last Updated On Aug 12, 2026 12:37 pm IST

Published On Aug 12, 2026 12:27 pm IST

Last Updated On Aug 12, 2026 12:37 pm IST

In a counter to the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Dalit card, Akhilesh Yadav is now banking on Brahmins. Setting his eyes on Uttar Pradesh's Brahmins, who account for around 9-11% of the state's population, Akhilesh now claims that the 'P' in his PDA (Picchda, Dalit, Adivasi) bloc stands for 'Pandit'. On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Samajwadi Party's (SP) founding member Janeshwar Mishra, he organised a conference in Lucknow, where most of the Brahmin leaders of the Samajwadi Party were invited. During the meeting, Akhilesh said that Brahmins were being oppressed in Uttar Pradesh, and that his party respects every caste. 

Punching Above Their Weight

Brahmins, however, are a small group in Uttar Pradesh in terms of population. In not a single one of the state's 403 assembly constituencies does the Brahmin population cross 50%. In fact, across 403 seats, only seven have a Brahmin population share of over 30%. And yet, no serious political strategist in Lucknow plans an election without a Brahmin outreach plan. 

That is because the community's power in the state has never come from numbers - it comes from spread, social standing, and, increasingly, from consolidation. Data compiled by VoteVibe shows just how thinly the Brahmin population is spread across Uttar Pradesh: 212 seats have a population of under 10%, and another 149 fall between 10-20%. Only 42 seats have over 20% Brahmin........

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