Why every party mobilizes A Dalit support

• The Haryana Assembly elections for a 90-member House are slated for October 5, causing significant changes in the state’s political dynamic.
• Smaller parties like the Jannayak Janta Party have formed alliances with Chandrashekhar Azad’s Azad Samaj Party (ASP), a new entrant in Haryana politics.
• Chandrashekhar Azad’s popularity among Dalit voters is not universal, with marginalized sections still favoring national parties like the Congress and the BJP.
• Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), in alliance with the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), has seen increased popularity and potential electoral support for Azad at the cost of Mayawati’s BSP.
• The Jat-Dalit coalition is projected by regional alliances such as the JJP-ASP and INLDBSP in a more amplified manner than the kind of coalitions being harboured by the Congress or the BJP.
• Social movements such as the farmers’ protest and the wrestlings’ protest have influenced voter perceptions of political parties in Haryana.
• The decline of regional parties like the INLD and JJP can be attributed to strategic missteps and shifting voter perceptions.
• The INLD’s decline stems from complex coalition decisions that failed to deliver anticipated political gains, internal leadership struggles, and an inability to adapt to changing political landscapes.
• The JJP initially gained traction by consolidating Jat votes and positioning itself against the BJP, but its decision to ally with the BJP in the last election alienated a significant portion of its Jat voter base.
• The party’s inactivity during significant events like the farmers’ protest and the wrestlings’ protest further eroded its credibility among constituents.

AAP’s Influence in Haryana
• Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has minimal influence in Haryana, with only 80% of 90 seats holding substantial influence.
• The party’s success is largely due to individual candidates with strong personal followings, rather than organizational strength or widespread support.

Social Movements Influencing Voter Perceptions
• Farmers’ protest and wrestlers’ protest have significantly impacted voter perceptions of political parties in Haryana.
• The JJP’s alliance with the BJP, which led to the farmers’ protest, was seen as a betrayal by its rural and Jat voter base.
• The wrestlers’ protest, centered around allegations of misconduct within a sports federation, led to perceptions of detachment from critical social issues.
• These movements underscored the importance of responsive and empathetic leadership.

Future of Haryana’s Assembly Elections
• The upcoming elections in Haryana are characterized by fluid political alignments, caste dynamics, internal party cohesion, and responsiveness to social movements.
• The rural-urban divide underscores differing political priorities, with urban areas favoring national parties over regional ones.
• The battle for OBC support is intensifying as both the Congress and the BJP offer competing promises to this demographic.
• The Congress faces the challenge of uniting Jat and Dalit voters amid internal discord and incidents.
• The decline of regional parties like the INLD and JJP suggests a realignment of the political landscape, potentially leading to a new churning in State politics.
• Successfully navigating these complexities is likely to lead to victorious outcomes.