With the 2027 Uttar Pradesh elections approaching, the BJP faces a balancing act over the UGC's 2026 equity regulations. While upper-caste. BJP worker slapped after questioning Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya over controversial UGC regulations, sparking upper caste anger. Explaining the politics behind the Centre's UGC rethink, senior journalist Ashutosh argues that the BJP faces a difficult electoral arithmetic ahead of the Uttar Pradesh elections.