BJP to shift focus back on Dalit-dominated villages to counter oppn’s ‘constitution under threat’ narrative

Lucknow: Dalit-dominated villages will be back in the BJP’s focus, with the saffron outfit all geared up to carry out a state-wide campaign to neutralise the opposition’s “constitution under threat” narrative.

This narrative is said to have dented the party and played a crucial role in reducing its tally from 62 to 33 in UP during the Lok Sabha elections.

The drive is part of the party’s initiative to hold programmes to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Indian Constitution.

According to BJP sources, the party plans to carry out the campaign, titled ‘Samvidhan Gaurav Mahotsav’, until Republic Day on Jan 26.

The BJP has already tasked its SC/ST morcha with carrying out the campaign in all districts, especially in villages with a sizable population of Dalits and the OBC populace.

UP BJP SC/ST morcha chief Ram Chandra Kannaujia affirmed that all the district units have been asked to hold programmes to expose the opposition, primarily the Samajwadi Party and the Congress, for charting out propaganda for their shrewd political interests.

“The people will be told about how the constitution drafted by BR Ambedkar was diluted by the Congress and its allies like SP to suit their political goals,” Kannaujia told TOI.

The development evoked sharp response from the opposition. “This celebration is nothing but a gimmick to fool the people. BJP believes in the desecration of the provisions of the Constitution. More than celebration, BJP needs to implement the constitution in letter and spirit,” said SP spokesperson Abdul Hafiz Gandhi.

“How can it celebrate the constitution when not so long ago we heard their leaders saying they want to bring major changes in the constitution,” he said, adding that in the recent past, BJP formed govts in many states by unconstitutionally making defections.

“Over the period of time, constitutional institutions were weakened by the BJP. Is this the way to celebrate the constitution by first bringing disgrace to it by your deeds,” Gandhi said.

BJP sources said that the party plans to hold sessions to highlight the measures adopted by the Narendra Modi govt to safeguard the values of the constitution in the larger interests of the people. Sources said that the party functionaries would lay a special focus on explaining the ‘Preamble’ of the Constitution and the Directive Principles of State Policy.

Analysts said that the BJP getting into an overdrive vis-à-vis the constitution attains much significance against the backdrop of its recent win in Maharashtra and the by-polls on nine seats of UP. “The party made a stunning comeback after being grounded in the Lok Sabha elections by a resurgent opposition which successfully relied on the caste narrative to counter BJP’s shrill Hindutva pitch,” said a political analyst.

Analysts said that the BJP also senses a fresh chance to corner part of the core Dalit vote bank of the Mayawati-led BSP, whose electoral fortunes have been on a sharp slide in recent times. Experts said that the BJP looks to capitalise further on its stunning by-poll win to consolidate its position amongst the Dalits and Most Backward Castes, which happen to be the decisive voting bloc.

Courtesy : TOI

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