Why A Mega Dalit Outreach Is Half Of BJP’s Plan For Ballot-Sure Bihar From June 20
Final Up to date:
Caste arithmetic and an unfavourable consequence within the elections final yr have prompted the social gathering to take steps to win the ballot battle
Since June 4 final yr, when the outcomes have been declared, BJP has taken corrective measures to win the narrative struggle. (PTI)
The BJP has determined to go all out to woo Dalits of poll-bound Bihar, even earlier than seat-sharing talks have begun among the many NDA constituents for the upcoming election.
Beginning June 20, the social gathering will goal the Ravidas neighborhood by organising the Sant Shiromani Ravidas Sammelan-cum-honour ceremony in Bihar. Sant Ravidas, a Fifteenth-century Bhakti saint, is a big determine within the Dalit neighborhood and is broadly recognised as a Dalit icon. Final yr, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commemorated Ravidas’ 647th beginning anniversary in his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi. Now, with Bihar election across the nook, BJP has determined to carry such conclaves in numerous districts and created a schedule for that.
News18 has learnt that BJP has mounted conclave dates for Begusarai on June 20, Samastipur on June 22, Madhubani on June 25, Bagaha and Bhagalpur on June 29, Saharsa on June 30, Muzaffarpur and Siwan on July 6, Darbhanga on July 7, Gaya on July 13, Banka on July 16, Arwal on July 18, Khagaria and Sitamarhi on July 20 and Gopalganj on July 31, which would be the season finale.
There may also be a particular conclave by way of which Dalit outreach efforts will likely be made in Bihar’s capital Patna although the date for it isn’t but finalised. The social gathering desires the Patna conclave to be a show-stopper with massive names in attendance, and therefore, the date will rely on their availability, say BJP sources.
However why the concentrate on Dalits? Sources within the know counsel there are two causes behind it. One is pure caste arithmetic. Although the Ravidas neighborhood constitutes simply 5 per cent of Bihar’s voters, if the whole Dalit pie in Bihar is considered, the quantity jumps to 19 per cent. Whereas BJP is assured about higher castes and OBC assist of some, JDU too brings OBC strengths. Even NDA’s smaller allies like Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief Upendra Kushwaha can affect OBC votes. Solely former Bihar CM Jitin Ram Majhi’s Hindustan Awam Morcha-Secular(HAM-S) and LJP (RV) Chirag Paswan have restricted sway over these referred to as the backwards.
The second cause stems from an unfavourable expertise in final yr’s Lok Sabha election when the BJP-led NDA misplaced 9 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. In 2019 Lok Sabha polls, NDA received 39 seats whereas in 2024, it managed to win 30. In neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, the state of affairs was much more grim. The BJP-led NDA misplaced a whopping 28 seats. Later, BJP went on file to simply accept that Congress managed to twist BJP’s ‘400 paar’ marketing campaign slogan as concern mongering amongst Dalit voters, suggesting their reservation rights are on the road. This labored in opposition to the BJP within the two Hindi heartland states.
Since June 4 final yr, when the outcomes have been declared, BJP has taken corrective measures to win the narrative struggle. Nevertheless, the social gathering feels that with no massive alliance companion that has a stable grip among the many Dalit neighborhood, the outreach is one of the best ways ahead.
Sources within the BJP say the plan to carpet-bomb the Ravidas Sammelans was conceived in mid-Might when Chief of Opposition Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Bihar Police stopped him on his option to Ambedkar hostel in Darbhanga, including that “they might not cease me as a result of your energy (minority neighborhood) is watching over me”.
Again then, Bihar BJP president Dilip Jaiswal had hit out at Gandhi, saying: “He ought to use his thoughts. If he had to make use of a authorities constructing or hostel, he ought to have despatched an official itinerary. He’s the Chief of Opposition and a state president of a celebration has to show this?”
Nevertheless, it’s learnt that this go to could have labored as a catalyst for the state BJP to pre-emptively launch a mega Dalit outreach, having learnt its classes final yr.
Anindya Banerjee, Affiliate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic braveness to the forefront. With a eager concentrate on politics and coverage, Anindya has garnered a wealth of expertise, with deep throat in …Learn Extra
Anindya Banerjee, Affiliate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic braveness to the forefront. With a eager concentrate on politics and coverage, Anindya has garnered a wealth of expertise, with deep throat in … Learn Extra
- First Revealed:
