Their rallying behind Congress is akin to the strong bondage that existed between the two in the pre-eighties period. After the emergence of the OBC factor and Mandal politics, they switched over their loyalties to the BSP and other outfits claiming to be their benefactors. Though the BSP was in the fray in a very strong manner in Chhattisgarh, it could not make much impact. What was worse for BSP chief Mayawati was that she was perceived as the covert supporter of BJP. By and large the dalits of Chhattisgarh rallied behind Congress. The Both BJP and Congress had focussed on the tribal regions of Bastar and Surguja that make up around 32 per cent of the state’s population. Three ministers — all from the tribal community — lost this time to their Congress rivals.

The Scheduled Caste vote bases too shifted significantly to the Congress as the party won seven of the 10 seats reserved for the community. Congress had won just one seat in the 2013 polls. Scheduled castes make up roughly about 12 per cent of the state’s population. The BJP managed to win only two SC seats this time.

But in the neighboring Madhya Pradesh, the BSP managed to get some seats, primarily due to the element of proximity of the region with Uttar Pradesh where Mayawati and BSP are quite active. In fact, an in depth study of the voting pattern and the votes polled reveals that a move is on for the revival of the old pattern of political equations: combination of Congress and SC plus Muslims. The emergence of the new type of dalit leadership has been primarily responsible for it. They do not subscribe to the Mayawati style of politics.

It is the emergence of the new leadership that prompted the government to ban the use of the word dalit. A recent government advisory asked the media to avoid using the term ‘Dalit’ in compliance with the orders of the Bombay and Madhya Pradesh High Courts. The courts directed the Centre and state governments to refrain from using the nomenclature as it “does not find any mention in the Constitution of India or any statute”. The BJP move turned the dalits skeptics. For them it was a design to abrogate their identity.

“Dalit” is primarily an anti-caste, anti-Brahminical, anti-capitalist, anti-oppression, anti-superstition rebellion. It is a militant affirmation. In fact, B R Ambedkar had strongly emphasized on the evolution of the word Dalit. The translation of the word was studied anthropologically by Ambedkar in The Untouchables: Who Were They and Why They Became Untouchables? Ambedkar argued that the broken men were a defeated tribe of the constant tribal warfare in primitive society.

Significantly, minister of state for social justice Ramdas Athawale had announced that his party would approach the Supreme Court against recent orders directing the media to refrain from using the term ‘Dalit’ and instead use the constitutional term ‘Scheduled Castes’ to refer to the community.

Another lesson from the elections results is that Mayawati has lost the mantle of being the face of the dalits. She has only been concerned of her benefits. Mayawati announced that her two newly elected MLAs would support a Congress government. But before the polls, she had rebuffed the Congress.

One thing is clear that the role of the dalit young Turks is going to be crucial. Leaders like Mewani and Ravan would define the new dalit identity. The politics of Mayawati may for the time being manage a few seats in collaboration with the bigger parties, but ultimately she would not be able to lead the dalits against upper caste exploitation and oppression. (IPA Service)