NEW DELHI, Jan 13: The BJP is optimistic about significantly enhancing its performance in the city’s Dalit-heavy constituencies, thanks to a sustained and targeted outreach initiative conducted over the past few months ahead of the assembly elections on February 5, according to party leaders.
In the previous assembly elections of 2015 and 2020, the party did not secure any of the 12 constituencies reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC). Historically, BJP has never won more than two or three of these seats during past elections.
Delhi comprises 30 assembly constituencies, with 12 specifically reserved for SC candidates, where Dalit voters constitute between 17 to 45 percent, as stated by Delhi BJP leaders.
In addition to the 12 reserved constituencies, there are 18 other seats with up to 25 percent SC votes, such as Rajender Nagar, Chandni Chowk, Adarsh Nagar, Shahdara, Tughalaqbad, and Bijwasan, where the BJP and its SC Morcha have been actively working in recent months, the leaders noted.
An extensive outreach campaign was carried out through SC workers in the slums and unauthorized colonies across these 30 constituencies in the preceding months.
Delhi BJP SC Morcha president Mohan Lal Gihara mentioned that senior SC workers were appointed as “Vistarak” (expansion agents) in each of these constituencies to specifically engage with community members.
These ‘Vistarak’ also assigned 10 Dalit youths at each polling booth to foster personal connections within various neighborhoods and residential sectors, he added.
The party identified over 5,600 polling booths, emphasizing more than 1,900 of those for targeted outreach.
This initiative of connecting with voters and sharing the achievements of the Modi government for the community, alongside highlighting the “failures” of AAP during its decade in power, involved a network of over 18,000 active workers, according to party officials.
As part of a second outreach phase, the party engaged 55 prominent Dalit leaders from its ranks, including former Union ministers and MPs from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana. A series of meetings took place in these constituencies, they noted.
Additionally, around 3,500 influential community leaders recognized as key voters with political sway in their areas were contacted to deepen their engagement.
The party commenced the “SC Swabhiman Sammelan” in these constituencies to honor political influencers, professionals, achievers, and notable locals in the community, starting in December.
“To date, 15 such conventions have occurred, each attended by a senior BJP leader. There was noticeable support from the community during these large gatherings that drew 1,500-2,500 members of the Dalit community,” Gihara stated.
Each participant received personalized invitations to these meetings, aimed at enhancing their sense of “self-respect” and connection with the party, he said.
Voting for the 70 Assembly constituencies in Delhi is scheduled for February 5, with results to be announced following the vote counting on February 8.
The BJP was defeated by the Aam Aadmi Party, which claimed all the Dalit-dominated seats in both 2015 and 2020. The saffron party has remained out of power in the city since 1998. (PTI)
