Ever since Chandrashekhar Azad’s victory in the elections, there is talk of the end of Mayawati and BSP. Politicians and media are constantly running the propaganda that Mayawati’s politics is over and now Chandrashekhar Azad has taken her place. But no one wants that two big leaders of the Dalit community come into politics and represent Dalits, backward classes and tribals…
Report by : Avni Kulshreshtha
Edit by : Sushma Tomar
The 2024 Lok Sabha election results came as nothing less than a surprise for the nation. While some parties out-performed themselves, there were some that could not cross the anticipated majority mark. Undoubtedly, the power of democratic elections made tables turn this year. One such highlight came from Nagina, where Chandrashekhar Azad has emerged as a new leader for the Dalits. He wasn’t visibly seen as a threat to other Dalit leaders such as Mayawati in the beginning, but it is his work that has established him as a popular leader in the eyes of the community.
Chandrashekhar Azad, the co-founder of Bhim Army in 2014, and the founder of Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) in 2020, has made his mark in the minds of the Dalits through his unwavering dedication and visibly impactful groundwork. He has opened several schools in Western Uttar Pradesh, and has had a more ‘hands-on’ approach as compared to his counterparts. In stark contrast to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Azad had lost to Yogi Adityanath in Gorakhpur in the 2022 assembly elections. It was the support of both the Dalits, as well as the Muslims, that brought him up as a leader in Nagina.
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Azad won the Nagina seat by more than 1.5 lakh votes, establishing him as a new leader amidst the Dalits after Mayawati. Azad’s victory in Nagina is particularly noteworthy because prior to 2009, this constituency was part of the Bijnor Lok Sabha seat, the same seat from which Mayawati contested elections. Her absence from the foreground gave the people an opportunity to place their faiths in someone new, and Chandrashekhar Azad, with a notably promising history with the community, won their hearts.
However, that’s not to say that Mayawati is not appreciated. She was elected as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh four times, and Bahujan Samaj Party emerged as a major political force under her leadership, making a space for itself in the Indian political sphere. She worked towards reservation to uplift the Dalits, and made various advancements in education as well as infrastructure.
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She initiated the creation of numerous statues, parks, and memorials honouring Dalit figures such as Dr B.R. Ambedkar, and made focused on complete eradication of caste-based violence. Through rallies, speeches, and grassroots organizing, she galvanized Dalit communities, promoting political involvement and activism. Mayawati’s efforts have left a lasting imprint on Indian politics, greatly advancing Dalit empowerment and transforming the political landscape to be more inclusive of marginalized groups.
Therefore, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections have made clear that people are not afraid to place their trust on new faces if they remain unsatisfied. It is necessary for party leaders to realise that the masses will elect those that they believe in, and those who engage in grassroot efforts. Indian democracy is strong enough to not be fooled and elected leaders need to show visible work for upliftment of all communities.
*दलित टाइम्स उन करोड़ो लोगो की आवाज़ है जिन्हें हाशिए पर रखा गया है। *
महिला, दलित और आदिवासियों के मुद्दों पर केंद्रित पत्रकारिता करने और मुख्यधारा की मीडिया में इनका प्रतिनिधित्व करने के लिए हमें आर्थिक सहयोग करें।
