With meeting elections scheduled in 5 states early subsequent yr, the Congress, by way of a joint initiative of the celebration’s Scheduled Castes (SC) and Minority wings, is planning a country-wide outreach program geared toward bringing Dalits and minorities onto a standard platform.
AICC minority wing president and Rajya Sabha MP Imran Pratapgarhi instructed The Indian Categorical that the concept arose out of what the celebration sees as “large oppression” of Dalits and minorities below the present system. “Dalit and minority communities are the worst affected and face large oppression. Due to this fact, we really feel you will need to convey collectively individuals from these two communities to debate the problems,” he stated.
The primary joint assembly between the 2 ministries is scheduled to be held in Delhi on June 6. Get together leaders stated the occasion will convey collectively Congress staff from each communities in addition to intellectuals, civil society members, social activists and artists to deliberate on points associated to Dalits and minorities.
After the Delhi occasion, related rallies are being deliberate throughout the nation, with a selected concentrate on polling powerhouses Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab and Manipur, the place meeting elections are scheduled for February-March subsequent yr.
“We are going to maintain the primary competitors in Delhi on June 6. Comparable competitions will then be held throughout the nation. It’s pure that two communities from the margins of society come collectively. Their issues are very related,” Pratapgarhi stated.
Rajendra Pal Gautam, chairman of the AICC scheduled castes division, stated the issues confronted by each communities below the Bharatiya Janata Get together rule have frequent roots and due to this fact require related options. “One group faces oppression within the title of faith and the opposite group faces oppression within the title of caste. Each communities are indigenous to this nation. Each communities are denied alternatives in jobs and academic establishments,” he stated.
Gautam stated the treaty would concentrate on the financial and social situations of the 2 communities and try to develop a “roadmap” to deal with their considerations. “We are going to focus on the long run roadmap whereas contemplating options to those points,” Gautam stated.
Congress leaders related to the SC ministry stated the celebration’s renewed concentrate on Dalits and Muslims is a “pure” political line on condition that each communities historically assist the Congress.
“Dalits and Muslims are historically Congress voters and we’re working to strengthen assist amongst these communities. These conventions will convey collectively intellectuals and leaders from each events and the primary conference in Delhi will assist form the technique within the poll-bound state,” the ministry chief stated.
political calculation
Get together insiders stated the outreach technique was pushed by electoral arithmetic in 5 states the place Dalits and minorities collectively account for an estimated 35-40% of the inhabitants.
“If we are able to consolidate the votes from these communities, we will likely be in a greater place to kind governments in these states,” stated the chief of the celebration’s minority wing. “In Uttar Pradesh, Dalits are in search of an alternative choice to Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Get together (BSP). In Punjab too, the Congress will likely be in a powerful place if Dalits and minorities vote collectively. An identical social equation exists in different states as nicely,” he stated.
Congress leaders imagine that the celebration’s ‘Save the Structure’ marketing campaign, led by opposition chief Rahul Gandhi through the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, resonated with Dalits, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, and contributed to the celebration’s improved efficiency nationally. The Congress received 99 seats in Lok Sabha in 2024, whereas in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress-Samajwadi Get together (SP) alliance secured 43 of the state’s 80 seats. The BJP received 33 seats, down from 62 in 2019.
Get together leaders declare that Dalit assist performed a key function within the opposition alliance’s efficiency within the state.
parallel planning
This proposed outreach comes amid parallel efforts by Congressional management to strengthen its message to minority communities.
At a gathering of the advisory committee of the celebration’s minority wing on Saturday, Mr. Gandhi instructed minority leaders to not hesitate in elevating points associated to Muslims and minorities, sources stated.
The advisory council contains round 60 members together with senior leaders reminiscent of Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Salman Khurshid, Tariq Anwar, Gurdeep Thapal and Varsha Gaikwad.
Mr. Gandhi stated that when Muslims are being handled unfairly, leaders ought to converse out particularly as Muslims, reasonably than utilizing the broader time period “minority,” in accordance with individuals who attended the assembly.
He additionally reiterated that the Congress stays the one nationwide different to the Bharatiya Janata Get together and argued that regional events don’t have the capability to defeat the ruling celebration in the long run.
Mr. Gandhi additionally stated that the narrative of the Bharatiya Janata Get together and the RSS, centered on the Hindu-Muslim polarization, would weaken as financial hardship worsened, the individuals stated.
“He stated the upcoming battle is due to the financial hardships individuals face and never due to the Hindu-Muslim divide. He believes that as financial points develop into extra urgent, the Bharatiya Janata Get together’s politics of hate will subside,” stated an individual conscious of the discussions.
