A Shift in Dalit Politics in Uttar Pradesh

As the BSP, once seen as the primary political vehicle of Dalit assertion, is facing criticism for its growing silence, Rahul Gandhi’s recent activism, particularly his vocal stance against Dalit atrocities, has begun to trigger a political churning in the community.

LoP in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi meets the family members of late Hariom Valmiki, a Dalit man allegedly lynched in Raebareli, in Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh. Photo: PTI

Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Friday (October 17) sharply criticised the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government following the brutal lynching of Dalit man Hariom Valmiki, saying the incident has “shaken the nation’s conscience” and exposed the continuing vulnerability of Dalits in India.

Gandhi, who met the victim’s family in Fatehpur district, alleged that the local administration attempted to intimidate them and prevent his visit – an act he described as a “failure of the system that shields the guilty instead of protecting the victim.”

Dalit politics in focus

The recent alleged attempt to throw an object towards Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai inside the Supreme Court, and the death by suicide of senior Dalit IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar in Haryana on October 7, 2025, reignited debate over Dalit security, dignity, caste discrimination and institutional bias.

After attempting to throw an object towards CJI Gavai, advocate Rakesh Kishore loudly proclaimed slogans in praise of ‘Sanatan Dharma’. He reportedly shouted, “Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge (We will not tolerate the insult of Sanatan Dharma)”.

Gandhi’s recent activism on Dalit issues, particularly his vocal stance against atrocities, has begun to trigger a political churning among Dalits over their future political alignment. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), once seen as the primary political vehicle of Dalit assertion,  is facing criticism for its growing silence.

Mayawati’s silence at Lucknow rally

At the BSP rally held on October 9 in Lucknow, to mark the death anniversary of party founder Kanshi Ram, a massive crowd had gathered to hear party supremo Mayawati. However, her speech disappointed many Dalit supporters who expected a strong condemnation of recent caste-based violence.

Mayawati targeted the opposition INDIA bloc parties Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress, more than the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In fact, she even praised the BJP government for maintaining Dalit heritage sites.

“The Samajwadi Party is two-faced – it remembers Dalits only when out of power but forgets them once in office,” she said, adding, “The Congress, too, had weakened the Constitution during the Emergency.”

Notably, she avoided mentioning any specific recent atrocity – neither the attempt to throw an object on CJI Gavai nor the Hariom Valmiki lynching – something that many BSP supporters found disheartening.

“The state government has, to some extent, maintained Dalit parks and memorials using ticket revenues,” she said, drawing a contrast with what she described as the SP neglect of such sites.

Political decline of the BSP

Mayawati’s reluctance to work at the grassroots level and her perceived soft corner towards the BJP have deepened the crisis within Dalit politics. The BSP’s political graph has been steadily declining over the past decade and a half. In Uttar Pradesh, where the party had formed a majority government in 2007, it now has only one MLA in the state assembly and no representation in Parliament.

Observers believe that Mayawati’s absence from active ground politics has weakened the BSP, leading to fragmentation of its core Dalit base. While Jatav Dalits have largely remained loyal, non-Jatav Dalits – who shifted to the BJP during the Narendra Modi wave in 2014 – began moving towards the INDIA bloc in 2024.

Analysts say that Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra helped build Dalit confidence in him. Opposition parties have also fuelled concerns that the BJP might alter the constitution and end reservations – a fear that has pushed Dalits closer to the INDIA alliance.

As the Congress lacks a strong organisational base in Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party (SP) has emerged as the principal beneficiary, drawing Dalit support alongside its traditional Muslim and backward-class voters.

However, in the 2024 general election, the Congress increased its tally from one seat in 2019 to six, while the SP won 37 out of 80 seats.

Dalit churning and emerging alignments

The ongoing churn in Dalit politics suggests that Rahul Gandhi is eyeing a political opening in Uttar Pradesh, attempting to reclaim the community that once formed the Congress’s core support base before the rise of Kanshi Ram and Mayawati.

According to Shashi Kant Pandey, a professor at the department of political science, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, “Rahul Gandhi’s strong pitch for caste census and his vocal stance against Dalit atrocities is gradually making the Congress a political choice for Dalits. However, it will take time for the party to benefit from this shift due to its weak organisational structure in the state.”

Pandey added that while Mayawati retains a sustainable vote bank, her failure to expand beyond Dalit support limits her electoral strength.

“She secured nearly 9.3% votes in the last general election, but without support from other communities, this cannot translate into seats,” he said.

Voices from the Dalit community

Dalit thinker R.P. Gautam, who is also associated with the Congress, believes that the community is searching for leadership capable of challenging the BJP’s dominance.

“No doubt, Mayawati and the BSP gave a voice and political identity to Dalits, but her reluctance to work on the ground has disappointed many,” Gautam said.

“Indeed, Gandhi is vocal against Dalit atrocities, but his party rarely ensures their representation in power. Now the time is over for optics politics — eating with Dalits is not enough to get their support. Parties must give Dalits a real share in power if they want their loyalty,” he added.

Rahul Gandhi’s message

During his visit to Fatehpur, Gandhi said, “The brutal murder of Hariom Valmiki has shaken the conscience of the entire nation. In the eyes of his family, there was both pain and a question – is being a Dalit still a crime punishable by death in this country?”

Attacking the state government, he added, “The Uttar Pradesh administration is busy intimidating the victim’s family. They even tried to stop them from meeting me. This is the same systemic failure that time and again becomes a shield for the culprits while putting the victim on trial.”

Gandhi urged the BJP-led state government to stop pressuring the family and ensure the harshest punishment for those responsible.

“Justice cannot be put under house arrest,” he said, pledging solidarity with the family and “every oppressed, deprived, and marginalised citizen” of the country.

“This fight is not just for Hariom,” Gandhi said, “It is for every voice that refuses to bow before injustice.”

BJP’s counter and local tensions

Hours before Gandhi’s visit, the victim’s brother Shivam Valmiki allegedly released a video urging that the visit not be politicised. “We are satisfied with the government and do not need politics here,” a family member was heard saying in the clip.

Posters that read “Dard ko mat bhunao, wapas jao” (Don’t dwell on the pain, go back) appeared in the locality but were later torn down by local Congress workers.

Congress leaders claimed that the video was part of a BJP attempt to manipulate the situation and create pressure on the family.

Earlier, Sangeeta Valmiki, Hariom’s wife, had met chief minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow on October 11. The CM assured her of justice and announced government support, including a house under the CM housing scheme, a permanent job for Sangeeta and inclusion under welfare schemes.

Courtesy : The Wire

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