New Delhi: The BJP’s “overdrive” to woo OBC and dalits has apparently left its core vote-bank — brahmin and vaishya — miffed, especially in poll-bound state of Madhya Pradesh. Reports reaching the BJP top brass suggests that the brahmin and vaishyas are upset with the ruling party for not giving due importance to its core vote-bank. While Brahmins and Vaishyas together constitute less than 10 percent of the total population in the state, their support is crucial for the BJP and chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to retain power. Elections for the 230-members assembly will take place by the end of this year and the BJP is aiming to retain power under Mr Chouhan’s leadership.
Feedback from the ground have upset the saffron party’s poll managers as the brahmins and vaishyas are looking at political outfits other than the Congress and the BJP. If BJP’s core votebank decides to shift its allegiance, Ms Mayawati led BSP’s seems to be getting their favour. Though talks between the Congress and the BSP for a pre-poll alliance have not materilaised as yet but the BJP poll managers have started reaching out to the brahmins and vaishya to placate them. The rajputs, nearly six percent of the population, mostly back the Congress in the state. The ruling BJP is facing anti-incumbency and corruption charges but above all a resurgent Congress.
While the OBCs constitute the largest chunk of the state’s population, around 40-42 percent, SCs and STs constitute about nearly 21 and 0.1 percent respectively.
Madhya Pradesh had also witnessed violent scenes during the April “Bharat Bandh” called by the dalit groups over a Supreme Court’s order on the SC/ST Act.
