Dalits, Their Support Base and the Bahujan Samaj Party: A Case Study of the Doaba Region

Abstract

Scheduled Castes (SCs) comprise 16.6 per cent of India’s population. The distinguishing feature of SCs in Punjab is that they constitute numerical strength, that is, 31.9 per cent (2011 Census). In terms of population share, Punjab accounts for 4.4 per cent of the total SCs’ population in India. During this decade, two more castes, namely, Mochi and Mahatam/Rai Sikh castes, have been notified as SCs in Punjab. Today, it is estimated that the proportion of Dalits may have risen above 32 per cent in Punjab. This article argues as to why the high concentration of Dalit population in Punjab has not translated into success for the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). For answering this question, the study examines two aspects, namely, the nature of the party organization and the political strategy of the BSP. The study was qualitative and conducted in the Doaba region of Punjab. It is an analysis of the interactions with 300 respondents of the targeted SCs population and 25 leaders of the BSP and its factional political parties.