POLITICAL POSITIONING OF DALITS WILL PLAY KEY ROLE IN MAHA POLLS

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is trying to mobilise Dalits in their favour through two pronged strategies- firstly, by raising the issue of poverty, backwardness and employment which matters for survival and sustenance of Dalits and marginal communities in India. Secondly, by their campaign strategies, they are trying to disseminate the discourse of possible dangers on constitution and reservation for Dalit and Backwards in BJP lead political regimes.

- BADRI NARAYAN

The Maharashtra assembly election is crucial for Maha Yuti (MY) and Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in many senses. If Maha Yuti wins this election in Maharashtra, it will give the following message: firstly, the legacy of Hindutva mobilisation is now solidly moving towards Mahayuti and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). Secondly, PM Narendra Modi still has a charisma which may produce victories for the National Democratic Alliance and political parties aligned with it. Thirdly, various policies for the poor launched by the BJP government at the Centre and Mahayuti in the state still work to retain beneficiaries in their favour.

This Maharashtra state assembly election 2024 will also be a litmus test for Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), especially for Shiv Sena (UBT), to see if they still have a hold on the Hindutva sentiment that was cultivated by Bala Saheb Thackeray for a long time in Maharashtra politics.

This election is also going to test whether, after Haryana, the Congress strategy of Dalit mobilisation, which is based on the dis-stitution and reservation, still contains potential for Dalit and backward mobilisation in its favour.