In a major push to win over Dalit voters ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a fresh campaign to engage with 6,000 influential Scheduled Caste (SC) personalities across Uttar Pradesh.
The party’s Scheduled Caste Morcha will lead the campaign, closely coordinated with senior state leaders. According to BJP sources, the outreach will focus on all six organisational regions of UP: Kashi, Gorakhpur, Awadh, Kanpur, Braj, and western UP.
“We will gather broader feedback from the influential sections amongst the Dalits and take corrective measures wherever needed,” said Ram Chandra Kannaujia, president of BJP’s SC Morcha in UP.
The campaign aims to connect with respected figures across Dalit communities, including retired bureaucrats, teachers, religious leaders, social workers, and professionals — especially from key sub-castes like Jatavs, Pasis, Koris, and Dhobis.
“The idea is not just to win elections, but to win trust,” a BJP SC Morcha leader told TOI. “Our party believes in Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and we are proving that through direct engagement and representation.”
The party plans to hold felicitation ceremonies and organise service-oriented events in Dalit-majority areas. These events will offer platforms for discussion on government schemes and social justice policies aimed at the SC community.
This outreach comes at a time when the BJP faces strong competition from the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance and the Bahujan Samaj Party — both of which have historically drawn significant Dalit support.
Experts say BJP’s move to start early reflects the growing importance of Dalit voters, who make up more than 21% of the state’s population. Engaging with community influencers could help shift narratives of exclusion and promote political inclusion.
“Personal interaction with community leaders can change perceptions,” said a party strategist involved in the campaign.
Earlier this month, the BJP had already begun a ‘dialogue’ programme across districts, led by state general secretary (organisation) Dharampal Singh. These internal meetings aimed to motivate Dalit party workers and prep them for future election challenges.
