Since scheduled caste and scheduled caste votes account for more then 20 per cent of total votes, they play a very important role in the government formation. There are 84 reserved assembly constituencies.

Keeping this aspect in mind all political parties are now busy in wooing them in their own style. Since BJP had got good number of Dalits votes in 2014 Lok Sabha elections all over the country it is responsibility BJP to work hard to retain them.

That is why Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ambedkar Mahasabha office in Lucknow and “became emotional” about the suicide by 'Harijan” student Rohith Vemula while addressing convocation of Ambedkar University in Lucknow.

If this was not enough PM Narendra Modi visited Sant Ravidas Mandir in Varanasi on Ravidas Jayanti on February 22. He shared a meal also at the temple with important functionaries.

Significantly enough, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal also visited Ravidas temple in Varanasi on the same day.

The political observers feel that PM Modi and Kejriwal are linked with assembly polls in Punjab and UP. It was pointed that that the followers of Sant Ravidas were living in UP and Punjab in large numbers. So the visit to Ravidas temple was aimed at wooing Dalit voters.

AAP is also working on Dalit votes in Punjab as it is likely to emerge major player there.

Congress is also working very hard under the leadership Rahul Gandhi to regain Dalit voters who had been traditionally been with Congress since Independence.

Congress MP and former bureaucrat and at present chairman of SC and ST Commission, PL Punia, was instrumental in organised Dalit conclave in Lucknow on February 18 addressed by Rahul Gandhi.

In his address, Rahul Gandhi said that only his party worked for empowerment of Dalits while others only used them for vote bank politics.

Praising BSP founder Kansiram work his for Dalits, Rahul Gandhi blamed Mayawati for not allowing any Dalit leadership in the party. Rahul Gandhi said Mayawati in her regimes never worked for Dalits only built parks and statutes.

He also blamed Modi government for ignoring Dalit well being and alleged that central government was responsible for suicide of Dalit student Rohith.

Rahul Gandhi promised share of Dalits and important positions to them in party organisation to involve Dalit leadership from village to top level.

Samajwadi Party has also announced holiday on Ravidas Jayanti on February 22 and announced various schemes for Dalits by the Akhilesh Yadav government. Samajwadi Party always blames Mayawati for ignoring the issue of Dalits.

BSP supremo is unnerved by the move of various political parties to take away its core vote bank of Dalits keeping in mind Mission 2017 polls in mind.

There is realisation in BSP that a large number of Dalits had voted for BJP in 2014 Lok Sabha polls to make Modi as Prime Minister. Now BSP supremo is working very hard to bring her Dalit vote share back from BJP.

Mayawati has become more aggressive towards her political rivals and leaves no opportunity to attack them on the issue of Dalits.

That is why when PM Modi visited Varanasi BSP workers organised demonstration to seek explanation of suicide by Rohith.

The entire nation witnessed an aggressive Mayawati in Parliament during debate on JNU and Rohith and she scored point over HRD minister SmritiIrani during debate.

Mayawati was also very critical of Rahul Gandhi for his attempt to woo Dalits through Dalit conclave in Lucknow and his programmes of sharing meals with Dalits in villages.

BSP supremo is also very critical of Samajwadi Party for ignoring Dalits and attacked Akhilesh Yadav for not taking any action on the issues related to atrocities on Dalit women.

How Dalits will behave during forthcoming elections is anybody's guess but political parties are busy in making sincere efforts win them over for their vote politics to grab power. (IPA Service)