Uttar Pradesh (UP) is India’s most populous state and a key player in national politics, sending 80 Members of Parliament to the Lok Sabha—the highest among all states. It has produced the most Indian prime ministers, including Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Charan Singh, and Narendra Modi.
The state was formed in 1950 when the United Provinces were renamed Uttar Pradesh. In 2000, Uttarakhand was carved out to better represent the Himalayan regions. UP’s capital is Lucknow, while the Allahabad High Court, based in Prayagraj, is its highest judicial authority.
Uttar Pradesh is known for its historical and cultural significance, home to landmarks like the Taj Mahal, Varanasi, and the mythically important Ayodhya. It hosts the Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious gathering, held every 12 years in Prayagraj. However, the 2024 Maha Kumbh was marred by a tragic stampede, highlighting concerns over crowd management at major religious events.
The state has also witnessed significant social and political unrest, including the Hathras rape case, which sparked nationwide outrage over issues of gender and caste-based violence and institutions responsible for the delivery of justice. UP remains a focal point in India’s socio-political landscape, balancing rapid development with persistent challenges in law and order, infrastructure, and governance.
Imaginary bravado!
Mayawati’s support to SP is a clear quid pro quo for their support to her Rajya Sabha ambitions; nothing more, nothing less. Mayawati is a very difficult person to get long with. The drip drip drip of leaders leaving BSP is proof of that. This is an alliance of convenience and not of conviction.
In a first past the post system, 40% is sufficient to win an election. The spectacular result in 2014 came with just 31%. It is only natural for opposition unity to increase when one party becomes dominant. However, the exceptional will to power now being seen, from not just fighting to win an election but forming governments against the grain of the verdict, even in denying space to political competitors which they are entitled to in a federal polity, is bound to push the index of opposition unity up. In UP, that could lead to a formal alliance between the SP, BSP and the Congress in a small supporting role.
Absolutely.