The Jat factor in Uttar Pradesh: Why the agrarian community remains crucial to winning elections

The Jats, an agrarian community, account for around 2 per cent of Uttar Pradesh's total population and can significantly influence electoral outcomes, as they remain influential in many seats, mainly in the western part of the state. Therefore, it should come as little surprise if either the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), or the Samajwadi Party -Congress coalition resorts to wooing the community in the run-up to the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh slated to be held early next year.