In poll season, all parties beckon Ambedkar as their own to win Dalit hearts and votes

Lucknow: Dalit icon BR Ambedkar’s birth anniversary on April 14 turned into a show of political one-upmanship in Uttar Pradesh, with parties vying to woo Dalit voters, especially Jatavs.

Until a few years ago, the grand celebrations on the day were largely confined to the Bahujan Samaj Party. But now every major political player—the BJP, Samajwadi Party and Congress—has stepped in to claim Ambedkar’s legacy, and the best way to show their loyalty to the architect of the Constitution is by observing his birth and death anniversaries with equal fervour.

So, on this April 14, BJP organised programmes at around 1.6 lakh booths across the state. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath, along with his deputies, Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, led floral tributes and outreach events.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, sporting a blue scarf — the colour associated with the Dalit icon — participated in community feasts. The Congress, too, held celebrations across the state.

For the BSP, the occasion carried added urgency. In what appeared to be an attempt to revive its waning political fortunes, the party marked the day with renewed energy, focusing on consolidating its core Jatav base. The mobilisation is being seen as part of BSP chief Mayawati’s continued efforts to re-energise Dalit support, following her Oct 9 rally in Lucknow last year commemorating BSP founder Kanshi Ram.

The heightened competition for Jatav votes comes against the backdrop of the BSP’s declining electoral performance. Its vote share in Uttar Pradesh dropped from 19.43% in 2019 to 9.39% in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In Assembly polls too, it fell from 22% in 2017 to 12.9% in 2022.

This erosion has opened up opportunities for rival parties. Both the SP and Congress are looking to expand their base among Dalits, particularly Jatavs, as they attempt to strengthen their position ahead of the 2027 UP elections.

While the BJP claims to retain strong support among non-Jatav Dalits, there were signs of slippage in 2024, with sections such as the Pasi community shifting towards the SP in some constituencies. The party’s loss in Ayodhya, where SP’s Awadhesh Prasad benefited from this shift, drew national attention.

For the BJP, the immediate priority appears to be retaining non-Jatav Dalit support rather than making significant inroads among Jatavs. Political observers suggest that even if Jatav votes remain with the BSP, it may still suit the BJP, as a Jatav-centric BSP is unlikely to pose a formidable challenge on its own as Muslims too have stayed away from the party since 2012 Assembly polls.

However, any consolidation of Jatav votes behind the SP or a Congress-SP alliance could significantly alter the electoral landscape. Combined with Yadav and Muslim support for the SP, even a marginal shift could pose a serious challenge to both the BJP and BSP.

The 2024 LS elections offered a glimpse of this possibility, with sections of Kurmis, Kushwahas and even some Jatavs drifting towards the SP-Congress alliance. The SP won 37 seats, while the Congress improved its tally to six. The BJP’s numbers fell sharply from 62 in 2019 to 33.

In response, BJP has initiated corrective measures, including appointing senior Kurmi leader Pankaj Chaudhary as party state unit president to consolidate OBC support. The party is also focusing on retaining Pasi voters, while keeping a watch on Jatav dynamics.

Meanwhile, the SP and Congress are intensifying outreach among Dalits. The SP is promoting Dalit functionaries in the party organisation and has deployed functionaries like Indrajeet Saroj to strengthen grassroots mobilisation and is also exploring possible alliances, including with Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad’s outfit Dalit Azad Party. The party is also considering greater Dalit representation in candidate selection and organisational roles, a senior SP functionary told TOI.

As Uttar Pradesh heads towards the 2027 Assembly elections, the battle for Dalit votes, particularly Jatavs, appears set to intensify, mirroring the competition for key OBC groups in the state’s evolving political landscape.Get real-time updates and result insights on the CBSE 12 Result 2026.