Opinion: The fight for Ambedkar's legacy signifies a big churn in Dalit politics
India TodayThe treasury benches and the Opposition have been engaged in a war of words over Dr BR Ambedkar’s legacy in Parliament and outside. Setback and recovery In the 2024 general elections, the BJP lost three per cent support of Dalits and its allies lost two per cent. On the other hand, the Congress lost one per cent support but its allies and strong regional parties like the Trinamool Congress, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Samajwadi Party etc. The sub-classification of SCs into the “deprived SCs” category comprising Dhanaks, Bazigars, Kabirpanthi, Balmikis, Mazahbis and Mazhabi Sikhs, and other SCs comprising Chamars, Rahgars, Raigars, Ravidassis, Ramdassis, and Mochis for reservations in government jobs The Congress received 42 per cent Dalit support in state elections in Haryana while the BJP received 40 per cent, helping in neutralising some of the losses in the general elections where both parties were tied at five seats each. In Maharashtra, while the BJP-led Mahayuti didn’t gain much, the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi lost 27 per cent support amongst Dalits with smaller parties gaining at its expense.