Bengaluru: Seemingly unperturbed over the opposition BJP's attempts to reach out to various Dalit groups in the state as part of their preparatory work for the Assembly elections in 2018, ruling Congress leaders feel the BJP's efforts to woo Dalits might not pay dividends. They claim the Congress has already consolidated its core-vote bank comprising Backward classes, Dalits and Minorities ever since it came to power in May, 2013.
The Congress also claims it has never ignored Dalits and whenever the party got a chance to accommodate Dalits in high posts, the party has done it. Even in the case of Mr V. Srinivas Prasad who quit the Congress blaming top leaders for dropping him unceremoniously from the cabinet, he was taken care of by the party as long as he was associated with the Congress.
Dr G. Parameshwar, a prominent Dalit leader is leading the PCC for the last six years and is home minister for the last one year, while another tall Dalit leader from Hyderabad-Karnataka region, Mallikarjun Kharge is leading the party in Lok Sabha. This is enough proof that the Congress has never ignored Dalits at any given point.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader observed that be it the resignation episode of former minister, V. Srininvas Prasad or the BJP's programmes to reach out to Dalits, they may not have a catastrophic impact on the Congress party's traditional vote bank.
"For any ruling party, there will be always fears of a marginal shift in every voter segment, which the party needs to identify early and work unitedly to prevent desertion from its ranks. As part of this scheme of things, the party has already launched a series of programmes to reach out to every voter segment targeting specific voter groups," the source said while contending that the Congress could always reach out in its own way to retain its hold over sections which have traditionally been its supporters.
The source added that the Congress party has always taken Dalit voters seriously and has been working with them ever since late Devaraj Urs launched land reforms effectively in the state.
"For instance, Gram Suraj programme is completely aimed at informing voters about how many assurances were fulfilled by the state government. This will help us in reaching every voter segment from four-year olds to eighty year olds alike. Similarly, we are also launching programmes like the year-long birth anniversaries of Babasaheb Ambedkar and late prime minister, Indira Gandhi, which will give us opportunities to interact with Dalits exclusively. Programmes associated with Indira Gandhi will allow us to reach out to women and youngsters alike," the source explained.
BJP may make congress squirm, not field candidate in Nanjangud
Woo former revenue minister V. Srinivas Prasad or support him in case he decides to contest the bypoll to the Legislative Assembly from his home turf, Nanjangud, as an independent in order to queer the pitch for the ruling party candidate: This could well be the strategy of leaders of the state unit of BJP who, like JD (S) leader H D Kumaraswamy, are keen to embarrass Chief Minister Siddaramaiah by ensuring a defeat of the Congress candidate in the Kuruba strongman’s home district.
Sources in the state unit of BJP said party leaders are waiting for Mr Srinivas Prasad to make up his mind on either joining the BJP (former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa has met the former minister and promised him a suitable position in case he decides to join the party) or contest as an independent.
The leaders, however, are unlikely to field any other candidate for the bypoll, sources said adding such a move would help the former minister retain his seat as leaders of JD (S) have pledged their support to him in case he enters the fray as an independent.
Sources said Yeddyurappa was not interested in naming a candidate because elections to the Assembly were only a year-and-half away. If Mr Srinivas Prasad decides not to join the BJP now, the leaders would persuade him to contest on a party ticket in 2018, sources added.
