The final day of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council's winter session witnessed a heated confrontation between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Samajwadi Party (SP). The clash centered on a controversial advertisement for Lekhpal vacancies that has sparked a major political row over reservation norms.
A Controversial Advertisement Sparks the Row
The core of the dispute lies in an advertisement issued by the state government on December 16 for various Lekhpal positions. The advertisement allegedly contained discrepancies between the district-wise caste data and the stipulated reservation percentages. This inconsistency provided ammunition for the Samajwadi Party to launch a sharp attack against the BJP-led government.
Leading the charge from the treasury benches, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, who is also the Leader of the House in the Council, made a significant announcement. He stated that the government was actively investigating the role of the officials responsible for publishing the contentious advertisement. In a direct accusation, Maurya claimed these officials were "agents of the SP" working to mislead the public and disrupt the recruitment process.
Accusations and Walkout in the Council
The Samajwadi Party members vehemently countered the government's stance. They accused the BJP of harboring an intention to "kill reservation"—a potent political issue the party has been raising aggressively since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The opposition went further, alleging a pattern of sabotage in government recruitments. They claimed that even when examinations for various posts are conducted, question papers are purposely leaked to ensure that fair recruitment as per due process does not take place.
Deputy CM Maurya led a strong rebuttal from the government's side. He launched a counter-offensive by accusing the Samajwadi Party of having "ruined Uttar Pradesh" during its tenure. This charge escalated tensions and eventually led to SP members staging a walkout from the House proceedings. Maurya reiterated that the misleading advertisement did not reflect the intent of the government or the Chief Minister. "We will ensure that anyone who is eligible will get reservation in government jobs," he asserted.
Government's Assurance and Broader Reservation Policy
In an attempt to quell the controversy and present a pro-reservation image, Maurya announced two key decisions. First, he promised a thorough investigation into the Lekhpal advertisement fiasco. Second, he revealed a broader policy move, stating that the state Cabinet has cleared a decision to implement reservation for outsourced government workers as well. An official order on this matter is expected to be issued soon.
Maurya also emphasized the government's proactive approach, claiming that the matter of the Lekhpal vacancies was first taken up by the government itself. He stated that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had already chaired a meeting on the issue even before the Samajwadi Party became aware of it, positioning the government as being on top of the situation.
The winter session, which concluded with this fiery exchange, has set the stage for continued political battles over employment and reservation in Uttar Pradesh. The Lekhpal recruitment issue is likely to remain a flashpoint as both major parties gear up for future electoral contests, with each side seeking to project itself as the true protector of the interests of backward classes and Dalits.
