UP Dalits spoiled for choice as parties woo them before elections

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is planning to attend the birth anniversary celebrations of 15^th century Dalit poet-saint Ravidas this month, beginning an attempt to garner Dalit votes before the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh next year, reports The Telegraph. Dalits constitute 21 per cent of UP's voters.

This is the first time that a prime minister will attend a Ravidas anniversary.

Modi will travel to Seer Goverdhanpur, the birthplace of the Dalit saint, which falls in his Varanasi parliamentary constituency, on February 22.

"A five-member committee led by Mandeep Das, priest of the Ravidas temple in Seer Goverdhanpur, went to the Prime Minister's office earlier this week with an invitation. We were assured Modi would attend our main programme on February 22," said Satyapal Virdi, secretary of Ravidas Public Charitable Trust.

Ravidas has a following all over the world, including Indian states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab and Maharashtra. Last year, many members of the Ravidassia sect attended the event from France and the US.

Hurt by the furore over the suicide of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula, who had been suspended from Hyderabad University and accused of anti-national activities, the BJP is now focusing on Dalit votes in Uttar Pradesh. On 22 January, Modi had offered flowers at Lucknow's Ambedkar Mahasabha. And on 24 February, BJP national president Amit Shah will visit Bahraich to pay homage to Raja Suheldev, an 11th century Passi king from the Dalit community.

The Congress is not far behind in the courtship of Dalits in the state. On 23 January, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi visited the home of Gokul Prasad Kushwaha in Mahoba district, a member of the Dalit community, and shared a meal with the family.

In response, Bahujan Samajwadi Party chief Mayawati, a strong holder of Dalit votes, said last week: "They can promise the moon. They can even put a Dalit in an important post in their parties. But my supporters should foil their game plans."

UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav is also in the game for Dalit votes. The Samajwadi Party leader offered land to the Ambedkar Mahasabha in Lucknow to build a memorial to Ambedkar.