LUCKNOW, March 27 -- The appointment of Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, a former BJP MP from Fatehpur, as chairperson of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), that of Rukmani Devi Nishad, sister of former SP MP Phoolan Devi, as president of the Samajwadi Mahila Sabha, has triggered unease within the NISHAD Party, which claims a strong hold over the riverine community in Uttar Pradesh.

NISHAD Party chief Sanjay Nishad questioned what he termed as attempts by both the BJP, its alliance partner, and the Samajwadi Party to woo the riverine community ahead of the 2027 assembly elections.

To show influence over the community, Sanjay Nishad had organised a rally in Gorakhpur on March 22, stressing the long-pending demand of the party - S...