BJP plays OBC-Brahmin-Dalit card to beat anti-incumbency in Haryana

Pradeep Sharma

Chandigarh, July 24

As an antidote to anti-incumbency, the ruling BJP is experimenting with the OBC-Brahmin-Dalit social engineering formula in the run-up to the upcominng Assembly elections.

Close on the heels of an OBC Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and a Brahmin BJP chief Mohan Lal Badoli, the saffron party has appointed a Dalit general secretary — Krishan Bedi — in a bid to fight the Assembly elections on the non-Jat plank. The post of general secretary fell vacant after

the elevation of Badoli as the party president.

With the other backward classes (OBCs) forming over 30 per cent voters, Dalits about 20 per cent and Brahmins nearly 12 per cent voters, the OBC-Brahmin-Dalit is a formidable combination for the saffron party. “The party will go the assembly elections with its tried and tested OBC-Brahmin-Dalit social engineering experiment in an attempt to form the government for the third time in a row,” a senior leader told The Tribune.

The appointment of Bedi assumes importance in the backdrop of the Jat and Dalit voters reportedly consolidating in favour of the Congress in the recent Lok Sabha elections. The consolidation of the Jats and Dalits in the Congress’ favour led to a sharp decline in the vote share of the saffron party from 58.21 per cent to 46.11 per cent as compared to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections while that of the Congress rose sharply from 28.51 per cent to 43.67 per cent.

The reported shift in the Dalit voters resulted in Congress’ tally going from zero to five in the recently concluded General Election while that of the BJP coming down to five from 10 seats.

Not only that, the ruling BJP lost on a majority of 17 Assembly seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes (SCs) in Haryana during the recent General Election, leading to internal churning in the party. The reflection on the poor performance in the LS elections has resulted in the appointment of Bedi, a former Cabinet Minister and loyalist of former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, as the general secretary.

Meanwhile, Bedi said his top priority would be to expose before public various acts of omission and commission of former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s 10-year rule. “A statewide campaign will be launched by the party to highlight atrocities on the Dalits during Hooda’s regime,” the newly-appointed general secretary asserted.

Khattar’s hold evident

The common thread among CM Nayab Singh Saini (OBC), BJP chief Mohan Lal Badoli (Brahmin) and newly-elected general secretary Krishan Bedi (Dalit) is that they all are loyalists of former CM Manohar Lal Khattar. Both Saini and Bedi had been ministers in Khattar’s first term from 2014 to 2019. Bedi has also been political secretary to Khattar.

Getting caste equation right

OBCs form over 30% voters, Dalits about 20% and Brahmins nearly 12% in the state. The BJP is trying to get the caste equation right to beat the anti-incumbency. The consolidation of Jats and Dalits in the Congress’ favour led to a sharp decline in the vote share of the BJP from 58.21% to 46.11% in the recent LS elections.

Will expose Hooda govt’s deeds

My top priority will be to expose various acts of omission and commission of Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s government during its 10-year rule. A statewide campaign will be launched to highlight atrocities on the Dalits during Hooda’s regime. —Krishan Bedi, BJP general secretary