UP Politics: Rukmini Nishad sister of Late Phoolan Devi MP gets Key Party Post. Akhilesh Targets BJP over AI, Jobs, Law and Order

In a move seen as politically significant ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the Samajwadi Party has appointed Rukmini Devi Nishad as the President of its women’s wing in the state.

Political observers believe that the decision is aimed at strengthening the party’s outreach among the Nishad (boatmen) community, an influential OBC group in several regions of Uttar Pradesh.

Rukmini Devi Nishad is the younger sister of late Member of Parliament Phoolan Devi, a controversial yet prominent political figure who had once been a feared bandit before entering mainstream politics.

Phoolan Devi, who later joined the Samajwadi Party, contested and won the Lok Sabha elections from the Mirzapur parliamentary constituency and became a recognizable face of the Nishad community.

She was assassinated in Uttar Pradesh in an act widely believed to be driven by revenge linked to her past.

During her early life as a dacoit, Phoolan Devi had been accused of involvement in violent incidents, including attacks against members of the Thakur community.

However, after years spent in the ravines of Chambal, she surrendered and eventually entered democratic politics. Her political journey was often cited as a dramatic transformation from outlaw to elected representative.

Rukmini Devi is believed to have stood firmly beside her sister during her most difficult years and has continued to maintain her legacy within the Nishad community.

Her appointment as President of the Samajwadi Party’s women’s wing is being interpreted by political analysts as a strategic attempt to consolidate support among Nishad voters ahead of the 2027 elections.

The announcement regarding her appointment was made by the party’s state president Shyam Lal Pal. Rukmini Devi formally joined the Samajwadi Party on October 6, 2019, in the presence of party chief Akhilesh Yadav.

At that time, her induction into the party was described as a “homecoming,” reflecting her ideological alignment with the Samajwadi Party’s social justice agenda.

Before joining the Samajwadi Party, Rukmini Devi was associated with the Pragatisheel Manav Samaj Party. Following her entry into the Samajwadi Party, she was assigned the responsibility of serving as a state secretary.

During the previous Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, she actively campaigned in Nishad-dominated regions of Bundelkhand and Purvanchal, working to mobilize support for party candidates.

She also played a role in campaigning for Dimple Yadav, wife of Akhilesh Yadav, during the by-election in Mainpuri.

The seat had fallen vacant after the demise of veteran Samajwadi Party leader and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Rukmini Devi was considered instrumental in reaching out to Nishad and other OBC voters during the campaign.

Earlier in her political career, Rukmini Devi had contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from the Phulpur parliamentary constituency in Prayagraj on the ticket of the Pragatisheel Nishad Samaj Party, but she was unsuccessful.

She had also been active in campaigning for her party’s candidate during the 2012 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections from the Kalpi constituency.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav criticized the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of adopting a vindictive approach towards political opponents.

Speaking at the party headquarters, Akhilesh alleged that the BJP was functioning in an anti-democratic manner and targeting opposition leaders and workers through false cases.

He further claimed that the government was misusing Artificial Intelligence for political purposes rather than utilizing it for developmental and constructive initiatives.

According to him, the BJP lacks a clear roadmap for development and has failed to generate sufficient employment opportunities for the youth.

He also alleged that inflation continues to remain high and that claims regarding investment inflow are exaggerated and not reflected on the ground.

Raising concerns over law and order, Akhilesh Yadav stated that the government’s claims of maintaining strict control over crime were not consistent with recent incidents reported from constituencies represented by top leaders, including the Chief Minister and the Prime Minister.

Political analysts believe that the Samajwadi Party is attempting to strengthen its social coalition by focusing on influential backward communities such as the Nishads, particularly in eastern Uttar Pradesh, where caste dynamics often play a crucial role in determining electoral outcomes.