Arvind Kejriwal and Dalit Voters: Dalit voters are very important in Delhi assembly elections. Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP is making a strong effort to maintain power in Delhi. Experts say that ‘AAP’ has received the support of Dalit voters in the past, but this time there is some disappointment among Dalits. At the same time, BJP has made many promises for Dalits and it is organizing extensive contact programs in Dalit dominated constituencies. Although the remarks made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar in the Rajya Sabha gave the opposition parties including AAP and Congress an opportunity to attack the BJP, but after this the BJP has responded to this aggressively.
Why Dalit votes will be distributed?
In the 2020 Delhi elections, AAP won all 12 seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) and won a lot of votes, with the help of which the party formed the government for the second consecutive time in the capital. However, experts say that this time votes can be divided on three sides. Kush Ambedkarite, the independent political analyst and founder and director of the Subaltern Media Foundation, said, “Dalit voters are present in all constituencies, but at least 30-35 seats in Delhi are where they can affect election results. You are expected to lose some support and Dalit vote is likely to be divided among three major parties. “
Dalits did not work
Ambedkarite said, “The two pictures in Kejriwal’s office are of BR Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh, because there are a large number of Dalits in Delhi as well as Punjab. AAP’s election symbol sweep also attracts Dalit voters and they feel connected with it. A large part of the Dalit votes went to the party, but today the Dalit community is not as happy with Kejriwal, because his life did not change much. The Dalit community kept supporting you is unhappy this time. Like the Valmiki community, he thought that AAP’s election symbol is a broom, so it will work for them. However, one of the main concerns of the Valmiki community is a contract job in the Municipal Corporation, which was not done. ”
Ambedkarite said, “Large promises were made that people would no longer have to enter the drains for cleaning the sewage and it would not be the practice of handing scavenging by hand, but this did not happen. A lot of votes of Ravidasia community and Jatavas have moved from Bahujan Samaj Party to AAP, but all the major AAP leaders of these communities have left the party. ”
According to the data compiled by the Subaltern Media Foundation, Delhi has more than 24 lakh members of the Chamar community including Jatavas and is present in all the districts of Delhi. The number of Valmiki voters is more than 12 lakhs, while other major Dalit groups include Malla, whose number is more than two lakhs. Apart from this, there are more than 4.82 lakh Khatik and more than 4.18 lakh coli. Other major Dalit caste groups include Chohra, Baazigar, Banjara, Dhobi, Julaha, Madari, Pasi, Sapera and Nat.
Some votes will be received due to plans
Rajendra Pal Gautam, a former Delhi minister and one of the leading Dalit faces of AAP until he joined the Congress last year, also said that the ruling party did not fulfill its original promises made to the community. Gautam said, “This time there is a reason to focus on Dalits. The upper caste voters are mostly supporting the BJP. There are some groups in OBCs that are with the BJP. However, Dalit votes can be divided between BJP, AAP and Congress. ” He said that a section of Dalits will support them due to AAP schemes. Very few Dalits are able to bear the expenses of their children’s education. They feel that there is no one to raise their issues. A section of Dalits will still support you due to your plans.
BJP can get support
The BJP has promised to teach needy students from KG (kindergarten) to postgraduate in government institutions, while you have announced Dr. Ambedkar Samman Scholarship, under which Dalit students will wish to get higher education abroad Scholarship has been promised. The BJP has also promised “BR Ambedkar Wazifa Yojana”, under which Scheduled Caste students studying in industrial training institutes (ITIs), skill centers and polytechnic colleges will be given Rs 1,000 per month.
Congress has done a while
Gautam admitted that the Congress was delayed in wooing Dalit voters and if he had already started campaigning, it could have got more support. He said, “The Congress has not been very aggressive in wooing Dalit voters and now it is a little late. Dalit is looking for options. “