UP BJP Campaign News: Addressing the question of how memorials serve to empower Dalits, the UP BJP has launched a major campaign. Through this initiative, the party aims to deepen its outreach and influence within the Dalit population.
Lucknow: To what extent has—or will—the construction or renovation of Dalit memorials in Uttar Pradesh empowered the Scheduled Caste (SC) community? This will serve as a key metric for feedback during an ambitious public outreach campaign currently being conducted by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the occasion of the 135th birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of the Constitution. To this end, the party launched the ‘Basti Sampark Abhiyan’ (Settlement Outreach Campaign) today—Wednesday. Its objective extends beyond merely commemorating Ambedkar’s legacy.
As part of this campaign, the UP BJP will also systematically gather ground-level feedback regarding the effectiveness of various welfare schemes and government initiatives currently being implemented for marginalized communities. This initiative comes on the heels of a decision by the Yogi Adityanath government to allocate ₹1 crore for the renovation of Dalit memorials in each of the state’s 403 Assembly constituencies.
Part of BJP’s Strategy
Chief Minister Yogi’s move is viewed as an integral part of the BJP’s broader strategy to further consolidate its outreach among SC voters. Additionally, one of its key objectives is to counter the ‘PDA’ (Backward Classes, Dalits, and Minorities) narrative championed by the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance ahead of the crucial Assembly elections scheduled for next year.
According to party sources, the BJP’s SC Morcha (wing) has been entrusted with the responsibility of spearheading this campaign, with a specific emphasis on engaging directly with people at the booth level. Sources further revealed that teams—comprising leaders from both the ‘Savarna’ (upper-caste) and SC communities—will tour various districts to visit Dalit-dominated localities. These teams will engage in direct interactions with the residents of these areas. **SC Morcha Chief Provides Details**
Ram Chandra Kannaujia, Chief of the BJP State SC Morcha, stated that this campaign will definitively assess whether the renovation of Dalit monuments has truly had any impact on socially deprived sections of society—and if so, to what extent. He further added that party workers would also seek public feedback on local issues and identify additional measures necessary for the welfare of the community. This emphasis being placed on the construction and renovation of monuments signals a shift in the BJP’s approach.
Such symbolic politics has traditionally been associated with BSP Chief Mayawati. During her tenure as Chief Minister, she prioritized the construction of statues, parks, and monuments as a means to establish Dalit identity and psychologically empower the community.
**District-Level Workshops**
As part of this campaign, workshops will also be organized at the district level. The objective of these workshops will be to raise awareness regarding the various welfare schemes currently being implemented for marginalized groups. By linking the redressal of grievances with the dissemination of information about these schemes, the BJP is attempting to transform its welfare initiatives into political capital. Party insiders revealed that the primary aim of this initiative is to counter the opposition at the grassroots level, while simultaneously accelerating organizational preparations ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Viewed as a calculated blend of symbolism and grassroots mobilization, this campaign underscores the BJP’s broader strategy: to acknowledge and validate identity, while simultaneously consolidating its support base among SC voters by integrating these efforts with its development-centric messaging.
Reported by: Pankaj Shah • Curated by: Rahul Parashar
Courtesy: Hindi News