The BJP government of UP has taken a big step towards strengthening the Dalit vote bank before the 2027 assembly elections. On Tuesday, the cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath approved the Dr. BR Ambedkar Statue Development Scheme. Under the scheme, the monuments of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar and other great men, social reformers and cultural figures will be conserved, beautified and rejuvenated in all 403 assembly seats of the state. At least 10 such monuments in every assembly constituency will be given a new identity.
UP Deputy CM Brijesh Pathak said that the statues of Baba Bhimrao Ambedkar, who were the pioneers of social justice, are with the chhatra-chabutra (chhatra-chabutra) and where the chhatra-chabutra (chhatra-chabutra) has not been made. We will work systematically by renovating the statues there. We are going to launch it from 14th April.
On the decision of Yogi government to provide umbrella and beautification on Dr BR Ambedkar statue, SP President Akhilesh Yadav said that no one should trust the Chief Minister. These people are now talking about installing umbrellas, beautifying statues and giving respect to the rights and reservations that Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar had given to the Dalits and exploited victims, but the truth is that they have taken away reservation in every job. The goal of Samajwadi Party is clear. To establish the rule of social justice. We will protect the rights given by Baba Saheb and will get back the snatched reservation.
Senior journalist Rajendra Kumar says- UP government wants to give a message to the Dalits that we are also well-wishers of the Dalit society. The work which Mayawati did not do four times when she was Chief Minister. No roof was installed on the statues of Dr. Ambedkar, no beautification of the parks was done. Now she is doing BJP. This is the intention of BJP but this decision is like a double-edged sword. There is less hope of success, more hope of loss. This scheme is considered strategically important for BJP. Last year, on Ambedkar Jayanti, the party had organized a 13-day special program. From 13 to 25 April, Sangh and BJP workers conducted a contact campaign in Dalit settlements.
Now this scheme will work to give institutional form to that campaign at the government level. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BJP had lost about 8.5 percent votes in UP. SP's PDA narrative that backward, Dalit, minority formulas and reservation will end and the Constitution will change had given a big blow to the party. Dalit population in Uttar Pradesh is 20.7 percent, approximately 4.14 crore. It has 66 sub-castes, out of which six major sub-castes including Jatav, Pasi, Kori, Dhobi, Khatik, Balmiki constitute 87 percent of the total Dalit population. Jatavs are considered to be the most united and core voters of BSP, whereas the division among non-Jatav Dalits is more.
From 2011 to 2022, BJP had increased its vote bank by attracting non-Jatav voters, but in 2024, some non-Jatav votes went towards the India Alliance. On the other hand, senior journalist Suresh Bahadur Singh says that this is a well-thought-out strategy of the BJP. BJP has prepared a big plan. If this is successful then it may return to power in 2027.
However, what will be the result will be known only after the elections. Politician Narendra Srivastava is considering this scheme as a new link in BJP's Dalit outreach. BJP spokesperson Hero Bajpai says that this is an act of honoring the great men, Hero Vajpayee says that SP always disrespected the great men of every section. But BJP respects all great men. Now the question is how much the rejuvenation of the statues brings about a change in the Dalit votes and will it be able to maintain the Swarna-Dalit balance for the BJP. The elections of 2027 will decide this.
