BJP banking on Dalits to make a dent in Congress pocket borough
BJP is banking on the backing of Dalits, the largest voting bloc in Raebareli Lok Sabha constituency, to win the elusive Congress bastion in the upcoming general elections. After breaching Amethi, one of the Nehru-Gandhi family's two bastions, in the 2019 election, BJP has its eyes set on bagging Raebareli this time. Its focus on the seat was also evident in its move to get Samajwadi Party MLA from Unchahar in Raebareli, Manoj Pandey, to cross-vote for BJP candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls, a development which is being seen as a prelude to Pandey joining BJP and adding to the Dalit base with his Brahmin following.
Raebareli has a total of 1.8 million voters, 34% of which are Dalits. Last year, BJP appointed Buddhilal Pasi, a Pasi Dalit, as its district chief, following a rejig of its district presidents. Brahmins account for 13-14% of the voters. In both 2014 and 2019 elections, BJP increased its vote share by about 17% over the previous election, gaining 34% share over 10 years. The Congress, on the other hand, lost about 17% share over the same time.
«I come from the Pasi community and can assure the community alone will be enough to make BJP win in the seat,» Pasi told ET.
There are about 450,000 Pasi voters in the constituency. «Pasi community has not been traditionally inclined towards any one party. But the Centre's welfare schemes are benefiting the community and we are also carrying out Labharthi Sammelan and Labharthi Sampark campaigns to apprise them and associate more and more of the Dalit community
