Lucknow: As the political battleground heats up ahead of the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, the Congress party has set its sights firmly on reclaiming its traditional Dalit vote bank. With changing political dynamics and the recent decline of regional powers, the grand old party is strategically positioning itself to win back a community that once formed its core electoral base.
For decades after independence, the Dalit community remained steadfastly loyal to the Congress. However, the political landscape shifted dramatically in the 1980s with the rise of the Bahujan Samaj Party. Under the leadership of Kanshi Ram and later Mayawati, the Dalit voters heavily consolidated behind the BSP, leaving the Congress marginalized in the state.
Recent electoral outcomes have drastically changed the equation. The BSP witnessed a massive political downfall, failing to secure a single seat in the 2024 parliamentary elections and winning only one seat in the 2022 state assembly polls. Sensing a massive political vacuum, the Congress is aggressively stepping in to present itself as the primary alternative for the marginalized sections.
The political stakes are exceptionally high. Uttar Pradesh has a massive Dalit population of around 21 to 22 percent, which plays a decisive role in 85 reserved constituencies and directly impacts the outcome of over 140 general seats. Within this demographic, the Jatav community makes up roughly 11 percent, while the remaining population comprises various other subcastes.
To strengthen its grassroots outreach, the Congress high command recently appointed prominent Dalit leader Rajendra Pal Gautam as the state in charge. This strategic move is largely seen as an effort to counter the growing regional influence of Chandrashekhar Azad and his Azad Samaj Party, particularly in western Uttar Pradesh.
However, the Congress is not the only party eyeing this crucial demographic. The Samajwadi Party, led by Akhilesh Yadav, is actively expanding its social justice formula. In a bold political move, the SP recently announced its decision to field 14 Dalit candidates on unreserved general seats. Meanwhile, the BSP has grown highly cautious of these attempts and has launched a massive ground level campaign to activate its booth workers and protect its core voters from shifting loyalties.
As political parties intensify their outreach programs, the battle for the Dalit vote is shaping up to be the most decisive factor in the upcoming state elections.