From Yogi to Akhilesh, why every UP player is chasing the Dalit vote
With Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections approaching in 2027, major political players, including the BJP and Samajwadi Party, are intensifying efforts to court Dalit voters, who constitute 21% of the state's population. The BJP has launched a ₹403-crore B R Ambedkar Murti Vikas Yojana, while the Samajwadi Party plans to allocate tickets to Dalits in 14 general seats. This outreach follows recent unrest over the murder of a Dalit college girl, highlighting the community's political significance in the state.