New Delhi: With the 2027 assembly elections approaching, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is preparing to strengthen political and organizational activities in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. The party plans to organize the ‘Samarasat Sankalp Yatra’ with the aim of increasing its influence among Scheduled Caste communities in both states and establishing closer ties with the Dalit society.
According to party sources, BJP National President Nitin Naveen will flag off the yatra from Jalandhar, Punjab, on November 18. The journey will pass through various regions and culminate on December 3 in the spiritual city of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The party intends to conclude the yatra with a large public meeting and various social programs.
Party officials have clarified that the yatra is being organized in conjunction with the 650th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Ravidas, the spiritual guru who propagated the message of social equality and brotherhood. Alongside conveying Guru Ravidas’s ideals, which stand firmly against caste discrimination and social inequality, the yatra aims to serve as a platform for direct communication with the Dalit community.
Guru Ravidas enjoys a large following and considerable social influence in both Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. His message holds particular political significance among the Ravidasia community in Punjab. BJP is attempting to leverage this social background to increase its acceptance among Scheduled Castes. The core themes of the yatra will be social unity, equality, mutual respect, and inclusive development.
Meanwhile, in the context of the upcoming assembly elections, this event is also being seen as a political strategy to attract Dalit voters to the party. The support of Scheduled Caste communities plays a decisive role in Punjab’s electoral politics. As per the 2011 census, about 32% of the state’s population belongs to Scheduled Castes, making Punjab one of the states with the highest proportion of Dalits in the country.
Among Punjab’s 117 assembly constituencies, 34 are reserved for Scheduled Castes. Additionally, political analyses suggest that the voting patterns of Dalit communities in approximately 50 to 55 constituencies will significantly impact election outcomes. Consequently, gaining the support of the Dalit community is critically important for political parties aspiring to power in the state.
Major parties such as Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Shiromani Akali Dal, and BJP are all engaged in efforts to secure backing from various social groups. For the BJP, which is working to expand its organizational base in Punjab, increasing influence within Scheduled Castes is a key political challenge.
The leadership hopes the Samarasat Sankalp Yatra will effectively communicate the party’s message to rural areas and regions with high Dalit populations.
Dalit voters are also a major influence on electoral outcomes in Uttar Pradesh, which has the largest number of assembly constituencies in the country. According to the 2011 census, approximately 20.7% of Uttar Pradesh’s population belongs to Scheduled Castes. Of the state’s 403 assembly constituencies, 84 are reserved for Scheduled Castes. Furthermore, out of the 80 Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, 17 are reserved for Scheduled Castes.
However, Dalit political influence in Uttar Pradesh extends beyond reserved constituencies, with Dalit voters playing a crucial role in determining victories and defeats in general constituencies as well. Historically, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has had significant influence over Dalit politics in the state. Nevertheless, parties including BJP, Samajwadi Party, and Congress have long sought to win over support from Dalit sections.
In this political scenario, BJP’s initiative to strengthen ties with Dalit communities through the journey inspired by Guru Ravidas’s ideals is noteworthy. Choosing Varanasi—Guru Ravidas’s birthplace (Sir Govardhanpur area)—as the yatra’s final venue is considered a decision of both political and social importance.
Along with intensifying campaign activities in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, BJP is also energizing its organizational efforts in Uttarakhand, where assembly elections will also be held in 2027. In this context, a two-day state executive committee meeting of BJP is scheduled for November 21 and 22 in Haridwar to evaluate party structures and frame future plans ahead of the polls. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Ram Madhav, responsible for the party’s organizational affairs in the state, are expected to attend.
Discussions at the meeting are expected to focus on election strategies, organizational strengthening, promotion of government schemes, and outreach to various social groups. The meeting will also emphasize assessing the state’s political situation and enhancing grassroots-level activities.
The BJP’s intensified organizational work in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand ahead of the 2027 assembly elections is notable. The party’s key objectives include expanding political influence in Punjab, maintaining existing support and reaching out to new social segments in Uttar Pradesh, and preparing its organizational framework for elections in Uttarakhand.
Political observers interpret the Samarasat Sankalp Yatra as a clear indication of BJP’s increasing focus on securing Dalit voter support. The campaign, which begins with the message of social equality and unity, remains to be seen how significantly it will influence election politics in the coming months.
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Original Malayalam report: Malayalam Daily News
