In a surprise move, BJP appointed Vishnu Deo Sai, from the Scheduled Tribe community as Chief Minister (CM) of Chhattisgarh, and Jagdish Devda and Prem Chand Bairwa from the Scheduled Caste community as Deputy CMs of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, rewarding the two groups for their overwhelming support in these elections.
Hindi Belt SC-STs With BJP
Of the 101 ST reserved seats across the three states, BJP won 53 and Congress 43, while of the 78 SC reserved seats, BJP won 53 and Congress 24. These represent a gain of 22 and 25 seats respectively for the saffron party in 2023 over 2018. The lead in SC-ST reserved seats helped BJP win these three states contrary to expectations.
BJP hopes its big outreach to the two communities will similarly reap dividends in 2024 general elections. In Lok Sabha, there are 84 SC and 47 ST reserved seats, almost one-fourth of the total strength of the house. In 2019, BJP won 46/84 SC reserved seats while Congress won 6. Of the 47 ST reserved seats, BJP won 31 and Congress 3.
Of the SC-ST reserved seats which BJP and its allies couldn’t win in 2019, majority of them are in the Southern and Eastern part where BJP hopes to expand in 2024, having maxed out in North, South and Central India.
BJP hopes that honouring community leaders with top posts will help the party break further ground amongst the SC-ST voters and tilt the scales in its favour in the non-reserved seats as well, where SC/ST voters’ role is decisive.
Historically viewed as an upper caste, urban, and elite party, BJP by honouring Dalit-Tribal icons has positioned itself as a party for all castes unifying all under the larger Hindutva umbrella.
With pro-poor schemes, it has created a loyal labharthi vote bank, where majority of beneficiaries belong to SC-ST groups due to their socio economic status / class.
What Congress Must Do
Traditionally SC-ST communities have been backers of the Congress party, however lack of representation in power, has veered the community towards the BJP. SCs and STs comprise 16.6 percent and 8.6 percent respectively of India's population (2011 census). However, in Congress’s top decision-making body, the 84-member Congress Working Committee, there are only 16 SC-ST members while its “jitni abadi utna haq” slogan demands at least 21 members.
Congress remains an upper caste heavy party down to the grassroots. Taking a cue from BJP, Congress has appointed Deepak Baij as Chhattisgarh State President and Umesh Singar as Madhya Pradesh LOP from the ST community.
But the Grand Old Party needs to accommodate young and loyal members of the community at organisational posts across the hierarchy. There is tremendous respect for Indira Gandhi amongst the SC-ST community. This goodwill has not been tapped by the party well. Moreover, the party needs to work amongst these communities as RSS and its bodies do, and raise the issue of “jal, jangal, jameen” rights.
The weakening of BSP provides an opportunity to Congress to wean away its Dalit supporters into the party fold. Is it ready to share power in the organisation and in states in power with the SC-ST community? That’s the key!
Amitabh Tiwari is a former corporate and investment banker-turned political strategist and commentator. Twitter: @politicalbaaba. Views are personal, and do not represent the stance of this publication.
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