Uttar Pradesh parties scramble for Dalit support as Mayawati's influence wanes
With the Bahujan Samaj Party losing ground, the BJP, Samajwadi Party, Congress and newcomer Chandrashekhar Azad are all intensifying efforts to win Dalit voters ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly election.
The Bahujan Samaj Party, founded by Kanshi Ram and once led to a 206-seat victory in 2007 under Mayawati, has seen its Dalit vote share shrink dramatically over the last three elections. As the party recedes, the Bharatiya Janata Party has sharpened its outreach, highlighted by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s recent renaming of Bhadohi district to Sant Ravidas Nagar. The Samajwadi Party, buoyed by a strong Dalit performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, announced an additional 14 seats for Dalit candidates to cement its PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) strategy.
Meanwhile, the Indian National Congress, with Rahul Gandhi emphasizing a central role for Dalits, aims to win back voters it lost decades ago. Independent Dalit leader Chandrashekhar Azad, after winning the Nagina seat in 2024, is attempting to build a statewide organization beyond his constituency ahead of the 2027 assembly race.
Why it matters
Dalit voting patterns could tip the balance in Uttar Pradesh's pivotal 2027 state election.
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