The Dalit-Muslim experiment is not taking off politically in the politics of Uttar Pradesh. In the by-elections on 9 assembly seats in the state, everyone from BSP chief Mayawati to SP president Akhilesh Yadav and Azad Samaj chief Chandrashekhar Azad had played the game of Dalit-Muslim equation but seemed defeated in front of BJP’s social engineering. Earlier, in the 2022 Assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Mayawati had used the Dalit-Muslim formula but could not give political life to the BSP. The question arises that the Dalit-Muslim equation is not proving to be a trump card for victory in UP?
In order to regain her political support base which was slipping from election to election in UP, BSP chief Mayawati had built a structure to win Meerapur and Kundarki seats in the by-elections with the help of Dalit-Muslim equation. For this, BSP had fielded Muslim candidates on both the seats. Similarly, Chandrashekhar Azad, who became MP from Nagina, had also given ticket to Muslim from Meerapur and Kundarki seats from his Azad Samaj Party. Similarly, Akhilesh Yadav had given SP ticket to Singhraj Jatav to create Dalit-Muslim equation on Ghaziabad seat. SP’s political intention was to create Dalit-Muslim equation through Dalit candidate.
SP’s Dalit-Muslim gambit did not work in Ghaziabad
SP had made political experiment of Dalit-Muslim equation on Ghaziabad seat this time. Akhilesh had fielded Singhraj Jatav, who comes from Dalit community, on a general seat like Ghaziabad. SP’s intention seemed to be to create a Dalit-Muslim equation but it could not succeed. The number of Dalit and Muslim voters in this seat together is more than one lakh, while there are also Yadav voters here. Even after this, SP got less than 28 thousand votes.
SP’s Dalit-Muslim equation has failed for the second time in Ghaziabad seat. In 2022, SP had placed its bet on Vishal Verma, who comes from Dalit community, but he could get only 44 and a half thousand votes. This time only less votes have been received. Had hoped to win the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Meerut on the basis of Dalit and Muslim equation but could not overcome BJP. In Ghaziabad by-election, SP’s Singhraj Jatav could get only Muslim votes and failed to attract Dalit votes. Similar voting pattern was seen in Meerut. Muslims voted outright for SP candidate Sunita Verma but could not win the trust of Dalits.
Mayawati’s Dalit-Muslim equation fails again
Mayawati is struggling to save her political existence in UP with the help of Dalit-Muslim equation but is not succeeding. In the by-elections, BSP had fielded Muslim candidates on Meerapur and Kundarki assembly seats. BSP’s intention was to create Dalit-Muslim equation on both these seats. In such a situation, BSP candidate Shahnazar got 3248 votes in Meerapur seat and stood at fifth position. BSP remained at fifth position in Kundarki seat also. Rafatullah of BSP got only 1099 votes. Dalit-Muslim voters are considered the guarantee of victory on this seat. Even after this, BSP’s Dalit-Muslim strategy did not work.
BSP has won Kundarki seat twice and its MLA has been on Meerapur seat also. It has also become clear from the by-election results that BSP’s own core votebank Jatav community is also getting out of Mayawati’s grip and is looking for a new political option. In such a situation, Muslims are not ready to vote even for the BSP candidate. Earlier, in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and 2022 Assembly elections, Mayawati had fielded a large number of Muslim candidates to create a Muslim-Dalit equation. But, not a single seat was won. BSP’s Dalit-Muslim formula could not work even in the Municipal Corporation elections.
Chandrashekhar Azad on Dalit-Muslim path
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Chandrashekhar Azad has been successful in becoming MP from Nagina seat due to Muslim votes. Muslims did not vote for the candidates contesting from SP and BSP under the India Alliance. Muslims had unanimously voted for Chandrashekhar Azad, due to which he won the Lok Sabha elections. This winning formula was used by Chandrashekhar Azad in the UP by-elections. Muslim candidates were fielded not only in Meerapur and Kundarki but also in Phulpur seat but failed to garner votes from Dalits. The result was that in all the by-elections, the deposits of Muslim candidates of Chandrashekhar Azad were confiscated.
In Mirapur seat, Chandrashekhar Azad’s party candidate Zahid Hussain stood third with 22661 votes. Chandrashekhar Azad’s party candidate Chand Babu has got 14201 votes from Kundarki assembly seat. Chandrashekhar and Owaisi have got more votes than BSP on this seat. Chandrashekhar Azad’s party at fourth position in Ghaziabad seat has got 8269 votes. The Muslim and Dalit equation is considered a guarantee of victory in these three assembly seats. Chandrashekhar Azad’s candidates were successful to some extent in getting Muslim votes but could not win the trust of Dalits. Not only from Meerapur to Kundarki and Ghaziabad, but also in seats like Sisamau, a large section of the Dalit community has gone with BJP. In this way the Dalit-Muslim equation failed.