NEW DELHI — Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has admitted that his party's inability to maintain support among Dalit communities stems from delayed responses to their concerns, according to reports emerging from a recent internal party meeting. The acknowledgment comes as the grand old party prepares for crucial assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, where caste equations play a decisive role.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, Gandhi offered high praise for Kanshi Ram, the late founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party, crediting him with successfully mobilising Dalits and fostering a strong sense of dignity and self-reliance within the community. The BSP, which emerged as a formidable political force in the 1990s, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, captured a significant portion of Dalit votes that had traditionally belonged to Congress.
The Congress has witnessed a steady erosion of its Dalit support base over the past three decades, particularly in the Hindi heartland states. Political analysts attribute this shift to the rise of caste-based regional parties like the BSP and the Samajwadi Party, which presented themselves as more authentic representatives of marginalised communities. Gandhi's remarks suggest an internal recognition within Congress leadership of past strategic failures in engaging with scheduled caste voters effectively.