Tug of war for Dalit votes begins

Mumbai: Dalits are considered a traditional vote bank of the Congress, but other political parties like the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) are also eyeing the community votes through various efforts. There are also parties like Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Republican Party of India (RPI) in the race whose politics revolve around the Dalit community. Ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls, every party is seen taking initiative to woo Dalits.   

The BJP-led state government approved the Dr Ambedkar memorial at Dadar just before the BMC polls were announced. The government also formed a separate ministry of Other Backward Classes (OBC) apart from the social justice department. None other than chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is heading the OBC ministry. However, the BJP has denied that the party is eyeing Dalit votes. “We never indulge in caste or religious politics. We have many leaders from backward community and the party has created its base among Dalits. No other parties have put in efforts for the welfare of the backward castes compared to the BJP,” Mumbai BJP spokesperson Niranjan Shetty said.   

AIMIM, which has received support from a section of Muslim community, is trying to gain Dalit votes too. The party has given prominent positions to Dalit leaders. “The Dalit community is with us. We are fighting the BMC polls together. We will be giving tickets to the prominent Dalit leaders for the polls. Our party always works in the favour of backward castes. The people are seeing us as an alternative to Congress, NCP and SP,” AIMIM MLA Waris Pathan said.

The Mayawati-led BSP is also in the race for the BMC polls, and it is confident of getting not only Dalit but upper caste votes also. “No Dalits are with the BJP. The BJP is making fake claims by announcing a memorial to Dr Ambedkar. Even RPI has no ground among the Dalits. AIMIM is restricted to a section of Muslims. We have got good response from the Dalit community in the last polls also. But only Dalit votes cannot help us win seats and hence we are also concentrating on other communities,” BSP state chief Vilas Garud said.

On the other hand, Congress is not easily giving up its vote bank. The party has apportioned responsibility to leader Eknath Gaikwad and his daughter Varsha in areas that have a large Dalit presence. Sources in the party said that the Congress is focussing on central Mumbai wards and slums pockets.