Akhilesh Yadav’s big Nishad card, command of Mahila Sabha handed over to Phoolan Devi’s sister Rukmini:

News India Live, Digital Desk: The chessboard for Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections 2027 has started. National President of Samajwadi Party (SP) Akhilesh Yadav In a big move on Wednesday (25 March 2026), the late former MP and popularly known as ‘Bandit Queen’ Phoolan Devi elder sister of Rukmini Devi Nishad Has been appointed Uttar Pradesh President of ‘Samajwadi Mahila Sabha’. This move of SP is being seen as a big strategy to strengthen its inroads among Nishad, Mallah, Kevat and Bind communities and make a dent in BJP’s OBC vote bank.

Attempt to repeat Mulayam Singh’s ‘Mallah Bet’

There is discussion in the political circles that Akhilesh Yadav has repeated the same old strategy of his father Mulayam Singh Yadav, under which unilateral support of Nishad votes was obtained by bringing Phoolan Devi into SP in 1994.

Legacy Support: Rukmini Devi is not only the sister of Phoolan Devi, but has also been her companion during her struggling days. Rukmini, a resident of Jalaun (Shekhpur Gudha), has been active in social activities for a long time.

Old Loyalties: Rukmini Devi had joined SP in 2019 and campaigned heavily for Dimple Yadav in the 2022 by-elections. Seeing his activism, the party has now given him a big responsibility like ‘State President’.

BJP’s ‘Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti’ cut?

Political experts believe that this appointment is by BJP. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti This is a direct answer to making N.K. the President of National Backward Classes.

Center of Nishad Politics: Nishad Party (Sanjay Nishad) in UP is currently with BJP. Akhilesh Yadav wants that by putting Phoolan Devi’s family forward, he should give a message to the Nishad community that SP is their real sympathizer.

Lok Sabha Formula: In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections also, SP had given more tickets to Nishad community, the result of which was that Rambhual Nishad from Sultanpur and Laxmikant Pappu Nishad from Sant Kabirnagar had won. Now preparations are on to repeat the same success in 2027.

Combination of PDA and women empowerment

Rukmini Devi’s appointment in SP PDA (Backward, Dalit, Minority) Is part of the formula.

strategy: As the new president of SP Mahila Sabha, Rukmini Devi will now unite women workers across the state and especially connect women from rural areas with the party.

Akhilesh’s confidence: Recently, Akhilesh Yadav had also provided a Scorpio vehicle to Rukmini Devi for organizational work, which was considered a symbol of the party leadership’s increasing confidence in her.

Rukmini Devi Nishad: at a glance