With Gujarat, BJP’s strongest bastion emerging as party’s worst nightmare, the saffron strategists have decided to play a waiting game.
With Gujarat, BJP’s strongest bastion emerging as party’s worst nightmare, the saffron strategists have decided to play a waiting game. Despite the dalit rage brewing against the state government, the BJP has decided not to go for a change of guard at this juncture.
“By doing so we will play into the Opposition hand. Anandiben Patel will eventually go, but, not at this juncture,” a senior BJP functionary said.
While the BJP is planning to weather the storm, Gujarat has turned into a hunting ground for the Opposition, particularly the Congress and the AAP. A day after, Congress vice-president Mr Rahul Gandhi’s visit, AAP supremo and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal visited the dalit family at Una on Friday. Mr Kejriwal, who is now eyeing Punjab — which has 31 per cent dalit population — stepped on the gas and termed BJP “anti-dalit”. Mr Kejriwal claimed that it was not an “isolated” incident and “atrocities” on dalits were being committed across Gujarat. He warned that the BJP government will be “taught a lesson” by members of all communities. Mr Kejriwal also stoked a controversy when he met dalit youth Kanti Mulji Vala, arrested for the murder of head constable Pankaj Amrelia, at the Rajkot civil hospital where he is admitted. When asked why he met a murder accused, Mr Kejriwal said he will also meet the family members of the constable at Amreli.
What’s worrying the BJP is that following the outrage, the nearly eight per cent dalit vote bank in the state could shift to the AAP or the Congress.
The major cause of concern for the BJP is that the dalit vote bank could add up with the Muslim vote bank. The Patidars, agitating against the BJP could also swell the number. The Patels form nearly 17 per cent of the state’s total votes. If these three come together, the BJP could lose nearly 35 per cent of the vote share and “that will be the end of our rule in Gujarat,” a Gujarat BJP leader said.
In Uttar Pradesh BJP’s move to woo the dalits has not only taken a hit following expelled state unit vice-president Dayashankar’s remarks against BSP chief Mayawati, and the dalit uprising in Gujarat, but also Congress’ projection of Sheila Diskhit as its face has also shaken its upper caste consolidation.
