BJP, Congress Undertake SP’s Playbook To Woo Dalits In Delhi Polls | India Information
Delhi Polls: In a high-stakes battle for Delhi, the BJP and Congress are experimenting with a technique borrowed from the Samajwadi Social gathering’s playbook – fielding Dalit candidates in non-reserved seats. This transfer comes amid a fierce political tug-of-war over the legacy of B R Ambedkar and the Structure, which has dominated Parliament debates in latest months.
Each the BJP and Congress have gone past the 12 SC-reserved seats in Delhi and have fielded candidates from non-traditional seats. The BJP has fielded 14 Dalit candidates, together with two in Muslim-majority basic constituencies, whereas Congress has fielded 13, with one contesting from a basic seat.
The BJP’s Dalit candidates in non-reserved seats are Deepti Indora (Matia Mahal) and Kamal Bagri (Ballimaran). Congress has fielded Aruna Kumari in Narela. This method mirrors the SP’s success in Uttar Pradesh throughout the Lok Sabha polls, the place Dalit candidates usually seats reshaped voting patterns.
Dalit Vote: The Gamechanger In UP
The SP-Congress’ mixed social engineering in Uttar Pradesh is a living proof. SP fielded Dalit candidates in Meerut and Ayodhya, basic seats historically not related to Dalit illustration. The Ayodhya win was a stinging defeat for the BJP, which had banked on the Ram Temple narrative.
This resonated with Dalit voters, lots of whom shifted their allegiance from the BJP, particularly with the BSP’s declining affect. The BJP misplaced 30 seats in Lok Sabha in Uttar Pradesh in comparison with 2019, falling wanting a majority within the Lok Sabha.
The Battle of Narratives In Delhi
In Delhi, the Dalit vote carries vital weight. The BJP has tried to focus on the “efficiency and recognition” of its candidates, with Indora and Bagri being key examples. Indora, although unsuccessful within the 2022 MCD elections, confirmed promise within the Matia Mahal space. Bagri, a sitting councillor from Ram Nagar, brings a confirmed monitor file.
Congress, in the meantime, continues to border its marketing campaign round “saving the Structure.” Aruna Kumari’s nomination in Narela reinforces this message, signaling the occasion’s intent to supply Dalits with illustration past reserved seats.
Structure at Core
The bigger political context revolves across the Structure. The Congress and BJP have locked horns, accusing one another of damaging its essence. The narrative that the NDA might alter the Structure if it secures over 400 seats in Parliament has additional polarised the discourse.
For Dalits, this debate will not be summary however instantly tied to their illustration and rights. By fielding Dalit candidates usually constituencies, the BJP and Congress are signaling a shift of their electoral calculus — one which goals to redefine how Dalits are positioned in Indian politics.
Whether or not this technique will succeed or fail will turn into clear on February 5, when Delhi votes. Nonetheless, the bigger query is whether or not the BJP and Congress can replicate the SP’s success or if voters will dismiss these efforts as mere political theatrics.
