India, Oct. 5 -- The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will sharpen its overtures in the poll-bound Uttar Pradesh towards the upper castes, particularly the Brahmins, even as it will deploy its time-tested social engineering formula of relying on a broader coalition of non-dominant castes, people aware of the details said. This comes in the backdrop of intensifying tussle between political parties to consolidate the upper caste votes.

In the state, where caste is a key factor in determining preferences and electoral outcomes, the BJP has been building a constituency of non-dominant and marginalised castes, wooing them through social welfare measures as well as political representation.

"Over the years the BJP has benefitted from the support ...