Full Breakdown
Rajbhar Calls for Four-Way Split of Uttar Pradesh Ahead of 2027 Elections
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Core Event: Rajbhar Declares Uttar Pradesh’s Division Inevitable
On September 21, 2026, Om Prakash Rajbhar—chief of the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) and a cabinet minister—asserted that the state will be divided into four smaller states: Purvanchal, Madhyanchal, Bundelkhand and Harit Pradesh. He said any alliance supporting a separate Purvanchal must accept a Rajbhar community member as its first chief minister and linked the prospect to an upcoming caste census.
Background & Context
- 2000 – The Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act created Uttarakhand.
- January 15, 2008 – Then-Chief Minister Mayawati announced a three-state division, proposing Purvanchal and Bundelkhand as separate entities.
- 2011 – The BSP government passed a resolution to split the state into four regions—Purvanchal, Bundelkhand, Awadh Pradesh and Paschim Pradesh—but the proposal stalled.
- The issue has resurfaced as a campaign theme ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh elections.
Data & Statistics
- Uttar Pradesh is India’s most populous state, with an estimated ? 250 million residents.
- The state’s 27 % reservation quota for Other Backward Classes (OBC) is a focal point for Rajbhar, who demands sub-categorisation.
- Rajbhar claims the Rajbhar community holds the largest vote share across Purvanchal, using this as justification for the chief-ministerial condition.
Official Statements & Responses
- Rajbhar described the division as “inevitable” and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi told him a caste census would resolve opposition.
- Sanjay Nishad, leader of the Nishad Party, called the claim “misleading,” noting existing special development funds for Bundelkhand and Purvanchal.
- Akhilesh Yadav, president of the Samajwadi Party, warned that talks of dividing Uttar Pradesh could fuel broader attempts to split the country.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Akhilesh ji, it is good that you are holding a press conference. But when the Samajwadi Party was in power, it made several decisions impacting Dalits. They ended reservation in promotions for Dalits, affecting many employees. They are the same old people; they haven't changed,” — Om Prakash Rajbhar
- “We want to assure you regarding the 27 per cent reservation. I spoke with the prime minister about this,” — Om Prakash Rajbhar
- “’ I asked him how we could move forward, and he replied, ‘I will conduct a caste census, and once we have counted the castes, there will be no difficulty,'” Rajbhar said.” — Om Prakash Rajbhar
- “There had been a demand to divide UP earlier, but now the state is progressing rapidly in all spheres. Further, special development funds have been allocated for regions like Bundelkhand and Purvanchal that needed handholding,” — Sanjay Nishad
Timeline
- 2000 – Uttarakhand created.
- January 15, 2008 – Mayawati proposes a three-state split.
- 2011 – BSP passes a four-state resolution.
- September 21, 2026 – Rajbhar delivers the “division is inevitable” speech in Deoria.
What’s Next
No legislative action has been taken. Rajbhar says the division will be pursued after the pending caste census, but the timetable for the census and any parliamentary approval remain unspecified.