How memorials empower Dalits? On Ambedkar anniversary, BJP launches drive to find out

Lucknow: How far will and has the construction or renovation of Dalit memorials in Uttar Pradesh empowered the Scheduled Caste (SC) community? That’s going to be a key feedback metric for the BJP during an ambitious outreach campaign marking the 135th birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar. The campaign, titled Basti Sampark Abhiyan, and scheduled to be launched on Wednesday, aims not only to commemorate Ambedkar’s legacy but also to gather structured, ground-level feedback on the effectiveness of welfare measures and govt initiatives targeted at marginalised communities. The exercise comes close on the heels of Yogi Adityanath govt’s decision to allocate Rs 1 crore for the renovation of Dalit memorials in each of the 403 Assembly constituencies of the state. The move is seen as part of the BJP’s wider strategy to intensify its outreach at SC voters besides countering the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance’s ‘Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak (PDA)’ narrative ahead of the high-stakes Assembly elections due next year. According to party sources, the BJP’s SC Morcha has been tasked with spearheading the campaign, with a strong focus on booth-level engagement. Teams comprising leaders from both upper-caste and SC communities will visit Dalit-dominated localities across districts to interact directly with residents, sources said. State BJP SC Morcha chief Ram Chandra Kannaujia said the campaign would certainly assess whether the renovation of Dalit memorials has actually resonated with socially disadvantaged sections and to what extent. He added that party workers would also gather feedback on local issues and identify additional measures required for the community’s welfare. The emphasis on memorial construction and renovation marks a shift in the BJP’s approach. Such symbolic politics has traditionally been associated with BSP chief Mayawati, who, during her tenure as chief minister, prioritised the construction of statutes, parks and memorials as tools of identity assertion and psychological empowerment for Dalits. The campaign will also feature district-level workshops aimed at spreading awareness about welfare schemes for marginalised groups. By combining grievance redressal with scheme outreach, the BJP is seeking to translate welfare delivery into political capital. Party insiders said the initiative is designed to counter the opposition at the grassroots level while simultaneously accelerating organisational groundwork ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Seen as a calibrated blend of symbolism and grassroots mobilisation, the campaign underscores the BJP’s effort to consolidate its support among SC voters by aligning identity recognition with development-driven messaging.