The importance of Dalits in the UP electoral politics
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Dalits constitute 21 per cent population of UP. About 35 to 40 Lok Sabha seats in UP have 25 per cent or thereabout Dalit votes
Sandeep Yadav
New Delhi: In the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections in UP, the Congress under its new state president Ajay Rai launched the Dalit Gaurav Samvad Yatra on the death anniversary (October 9) of BSP founder Kanshi Ram. The party also organised Dalit Panchayats in the villages and town squares as part of its Dalit outreach programs.
The Samajwadi Party (SP), primarily the party of OBCs and Muslims, rejigged its caste calculations and came up with the PDA formula – Pichhda Dalit Alpsankhyak – in which Dalits occupy the prime space. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav even went to Mhow town near Indore in MP and paid homage to Dalit icon and social reformer Dr BR Ambedkar. He then inaugurated a statue of BSP founder Manyavar Kanshiram in Bareilly. The SP also introduced its new frontal youth wing named after Ambedkar – Baba Sahab Bhimrao Ambedkar Vahini. Not to be left behind, the ruling BJP organised several Dalit conventions across the state, attended by the top BJP leadership of the state including CM Yogi Adityanath.
Buoyed by BSP chief Mayawati’s inaction and the party’s dismal performance in the last assembly election, the political parties in UP have been making sustained efforts to and consolidate support among the Dalits. SP and Congress are even branding BSP as BJP’s B-team which is putting up candidates to assist the saffron party. However, Mayawati’s nephew and party’s national coordinator Akash Anand is trying to defeat their motives by taking to an aggressive campaign and projecting BSP as the real and sincere messiah of Dalits.
Dalits and their politics
About 21. 1 per cent Dalit population of UP has always been an important political force in the state. For almost four decades after independence, Dalits majorly stuck with Congress but gradually parted ways with the arrival of BSP in the mid-80s. With weakened BSP and inactive Mayawati, the Dalits are again looking for an option. The Azad Samaj Party (ASP) of Chandrasekhar Azad has not emerged as a viable option for them.
As a result, the BJP has succeeded in making a wide inroads into the Dalit vote bank as witnessed in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and 2022 Assembly elections.
Of the 17 reserved (for Scheduled Castes) Lok Sabha seats in UP, BJP was able to win 15 while BSP and SP together could win just two in 2019 – Lalganj and Nagina. However, SP and Congress want to wean Dalits from the BJP this election season. But without a clear agenda for their upliftment, it could prove to be a herculean task.
About 40 seats with 25 per cent Dalits
Although there are only 17 SC Reserved seats out of 80 in UP, there are at least 35 to 40 seats where the Dalit population is about 25 per cent. As a result, Dalits hold the key to victory in these seats. Some of these seats include Kheri, Saharanpur, Aligarh, Etawa, Hathras, Banda, Hamirpur, Jhansi, Akbarpur, Sitapur, Hardoi, Mohanlalganj, Unnao, Rae Barelli, Faizabad, Allahabad, Agra, Barabanki, Misrikh, Bijnor, Nagina, Lalganj etc.
Dalits opting for BJP
Meanwhile, as per the political pandits, about a 50 per cent shift of Dalits has already taken place in favour of the BJP. The BJP’s inclusive politics and PM Narendra Modi’s mass appeal is a major factor. Also, other options like SP are not a natural choice for Dalits considering the past bad blood between the SP and BSP. Congress is too weak a force in UP to be given a chance.
However, if the INDIA (SP and Congress) have to dent the BJP in the state, it will have to garner a large chunk of Dalit votes. Failing to do so, it will be difficult to stop the BJP juggernaut.
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Courtesy : News Nine
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