Focus on govt projects in BJP’S Dalit outreach
Beneficiary conferences scheduled at district, state, national levels
NEWDELHI:THE Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is finalising an outreach programme for each beneficiary of government schemes among the Scheduled Caste communities ahead of the next general election to the Lok Sabha, two party leaders familiar with the matter said.
These beneficiary conferences will take place at the district, state and national levels, last of which are proposed in Uttar Pradesh.
“We are finalising the dates. A committee has been set up to coordinate and finalise the programme,” Kaushambi MP Vinod Sonkar, who is also the chief of BJP’S SC Morcha, said.
The government claimed about 22 crore people have benefitted from the government schemes such as free LPG cylinders for BPL families, loans to promote self-employment, insurance schemes and others. “At least 5-7 crore of these 22 crore people belong to Scheduled Castes,” Sonkar said.
Dalits account for about 17% of India’s population and half of them live in four states: Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and Tamil Nadu. Dalits also have a strong population in other states such as Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Maharashtra; and they can influence the outcome of elections in certain pockets of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
These states are crucial for the BJP in 2019 for two reasons.
First, the BJP led alliance swept states such as Uttar Pradesh, winning 73 of 80 Lok Sabha seats. It was a near sweep for the NDA in Maharashtra and Bihar; and it won all seats in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The party’s prospect of returning to power depends much on how it performs in these states.
Second, the BJP is pinning its hopes on winning new territories, such as West Bengal, to compensate for any loss in its strong hold areas. It expansion plan depends on its ability to attract those voters who have traditionally not voted for the BJP.
“The SCS have concentrated settlement and they generally vote in a block, which makes them crucial in any election. We will try to convert these beneficiaries into our loyal supporters,” the second BJP leader quoted above said, requesting he not be identified.
Some experts are sceptical. “Parading hand-picked beneficiaries of social programmes may not suffice to counter the cumulated resentment that stems from the violence and mistreatment endured by Dalits over the past few years,” says Gilles Verniers, assistant professor of political science at Ashoka University.
“The exercise would have more meaning if its purpose was to consult beneficiaries on ways to improve those schemes. But the publicity surrounding those events would prevent that from happening,” he said.
The BJP remains optimistic. “Each morcha of the party, such as women front and the Yuva morcha, have been suggested to carry out similar exercises and reach out to beneficiaries of government schemes seeking their support. The Scheduled Castes communities were up in arms following a Supreme Court judgment diluting provisions of the SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, such as immediate arrests after a complaint is filed.
Unrest was visible even among allies of the ruling NDA, such as Ram Vilas Paswan of Biharbased Lok Janshakti Party, who demanded the government reverse the judgment through a legislation. The government brought a bill in the just concluded session of Parliament.