1 hr ago
Sanjay Nishad Defends Pandey Meeting, Presses Alliance Demands
Sanjay Nishad met opposition leader Mata Prasad Pandey at Pandey’s home.
Some people thought the meeting might signal a political change.
Nishad said that was not true.
He said he met Pandey because Pandey was ill and had once guided him.
They also talked about the killing of a member of Nishad’s community.
Nishad said his party protested because it wanted justice, even though it supports the government.
He said government action followed the protest, including arrests and changes in police postings.
He also wants his political alliance to carefully share seats before the 2027 election.
Uttar Pradesh Minister Sanjay Nishad said his meeting with SP leader Mata Prasad Pandey was being misinterpreted.
Nishad said he visited Pandey because the senior leader was ill and had guided him during his youth.
They discussed the murder of Nishad community member Vinod Sahani and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Nishad defended his protest against the BJP-led government, saying it was aimed at securing justice rather than opposing the government.
He urged alliance partners to receive seats the BJP-led alliance previously lost ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
- Who
- Uttar Pradesh Minister and Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad met Samajwadi Party leader and Assembly Opposition Leader Mata Prasad Pandey.
- What
- Nishad explained their meeting, discussed the Vinod Sahani murder and his party’s protest, and made demands about future alliance seat-sharing.
- Where
- Pandey’s private residence in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
- When
- The meeting took place on Monday, and Nishad commented on it on Tuesday.
- Why
- Nishad said he visited Pandey because he was ill, while the broader political discussions concerned the Sahani case, justice for the Nishad community and the 2027 election alliance.
Nishad’s explanation
Political interpretation
Meaning of the meeting
Nishad’s explanation
Sanjay Nishad said it was a meeting between two senior politicians, prompted partly by Pandey’s illness, and that its political significance was being overstated.
Political interpretation
The meeting triggered intensive political discussion because Pandey is a Samajwadi Party leader while Nishad is a minister and ally of the BJP-led government.
Protesting while in government
Nishad’s explanation
Nishad said the Nishad Party’s protest over Vinod Sahani’s murder was necessary to demand justice and did not mean the party opposed the government.
Political interpretation
The protest highlighted tension within the BJP-led alliance, as Nishad publicly challenged the government despite serving as one of its allies.
Seat-sharing
Nishad’s explanation
Nishad argued that alliance partners should receive seats they previously lost so the alliance can improve its chances of victory.
Political interpretation
The article does not state how the BJP or other alliance partners responded to Nishad’s seat-sharing demand.
Key facts
- Meeting
- Sanjay Nishad met Mata Prasad Pandey at Pandey’s private residence.
- Nishad’s explanation
- Nishad said the meeting was being given incorrect political interpretations and that he visited Pandey because he was ill.
- Case discussed
- The leaders discussed the murder of Nishad community member Vinod Sahani in Gonda after a dispute over social media posts.
- Nishad Party position
- Nishad has demanded separate reservation for the Nishad community within the Scheduled Caste quota.
- Government response cited
- Nishad said arrests, case registrations and police posting changes followed the alleged murder.
- Future election
- Nishad referred to seat-sharing for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
Quotes
Sanjay Nishad
Uttar Pradesh minister and Nishad Party chief
“Wrong meanings are being drawn from it. He is a senior leader. He used to guide us during our youth. He was ill, so meeting him was my duty. Now, when two senior leaders meet, there will be discussions on politics.”
thehansindia.com
“The Assembly comes later. If an officer is doing injustice and we still do not come out, then who will? We are not against the government; otherwise action would not have been taken (against the alleged murder).”
thehansindia.com









