SP-RLD row over chavanni flips open caste fault lines ahead of U.P. poll
A political war of words between RLD's Jayant Chaudhary and SP's Akhilesh Yadav has reignited debates over caste loyalty and political betrayal in Uttar Pradesh. The conflict centers on Chaudhary's shift to the BJP-led NDA, which supporters view as a strategic move and critics view as a flip-flop.
Why it matters
Caste-based political alliances are a defining feature of Uttar Pradesh elections, and this rivalry could influence Jat voting patterns.
The modest chavanni – the now-obsolete 25-paise coin – is gaining currency in western Uttar Pradesh ahead of the State election following a war of words over loyalty and caste identity between Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) president Jayant Chaudhary and his former ally, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav.
The conflict escalated after Mr. Yadav made a veiled jibe targeting Mr. Chaudhary. “We turned a chavanni into a rupee, and yet they left us,” the SP chief said at a recent event in Lucknow. This was a direct reference to Mr. Chaudhary’s own famous 2022 declaration, when he resisted Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) initial overtures during the 2022 poll by saying, “I am not a chavanni that will flip.”
After subsequently flipping to join the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) before the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Mr. Chaudhary became a prime target for the Opposition.
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