Dalits and the BSP in Uttar Pradesh: Issues and Challenges

Abstract

After establishing its monopoly over dalit votes, especially the numerically strong jatavs and pasis, the BSP is attempting to turn the electoral arithmetic in Uttar Pradesh in its favour by wooing the upper castes who are no longer in direct conflict with the dalits in view of the structural changes in rural India. The BSP undoubtedly has instilled self-respect among the UP dalits through its strategy of single-mindedly pursuing electoral power. Yet, its neglect till now of well-thought out programmatic content, besides its loose hold over other dalit castes and MBCs, can prove a hindrance to evolving a more inclusivist agenda for the future.