As Delhi's Assembly elections approach, the Dalit voters are becoming a key focus. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has had strong support from Dalit voters in the past, faces competition from both the Congress and BJP.
Experts suggest that Dalit votes may be divided between the three parties this time.
AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal has relied on Dalit support to win past elections, but some voters are now feeling disillusioned. The BJP, meanwhile, is making promises aimed at attracting Dalit votes and is running outreach programmes in areas with large Dalit populations.
The controversy sparked by Union Home Minister Amit Shah's comments about B.R. Ambedkar has further intensified the political battle ahead of the February 5 polls, with the AAP and Congress sharply criticising the BJP.
In the 2020 Delhi elections, AAP won all 12 seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and gained significant Dalit support, helping it secure a second term. However, experts now predict that Dalit votes may split among AAP, BJP, and Congress.
Political analyst Kush Ambedkarwadi noted that Dalits have a significant presence in many constituencies, especially in 30-35 key seats, where their votes could swing the outcome.
While the AAP’s symbol (a broom) and its focus on Dalit issues initially resonated with the community, Ambedkarwadi believes many Dalits are unhappy with Kejriwal’s leadership, as they feel their issues, like the promise to end manual scavenging, have not been addressed.
Former AAP leader Rajendra Pal Gautam, who now supports Congress, criticised the party for failing to meet its promises to the Dalit community.
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Gautam added that Dalit votes will likely be divided three ways among BJP, AAP, and Congress, but parties like the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Azad Samaj Party (ASP) are unlikely to make much of an impact.
The BJP has promised various schemes for Dalits, including education from kindergarten to post-graduation in government institutions and a stipend for SC students in vocational training. AAP has introduced the Dr. Ambedkar Samman Scholarship to help Dalit students study abroad.
While the Congress has been slow to target Dalit voters, a recent survey by NACDAOR and The Convergent Media found that AAP still leads in Dalit support, despite a decline in its popularity.
According to the survey, 44 per cent of Dalit voters in Delhi are still likely to vote for AAP, down from 53 per cent in the 2020 polls. BJP is expected to get 32 per cent of Dalit votes, while Congress stands at 21 per cent.
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