Telangana: Tactics to mobilize Dalit votes

HYDERABAD: After Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned after shaking up the minds of Dalit voters of Telangana, BRS and Congress have stepped up their moves to protect their vote banks. TDP and BRS had got the majority of Dalit votes in the last elections.

Dalits, who constitute more than 17 per cent of the state's population, can decide the fate of unreserved seats as well. With Narendra Modi attending a meeting of the Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS), the BJP is trying to win the support of the Madigas. Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi leader Manda Krishna Madiga had assured Modi of the Madiga community's support in the elections. He also asked his workers to show solidarity with the Prime Minister. Two Union Ministers belonging to the Dalit community also attended the function. BJP's state unit has come up with the Dalit Ratna scheme to garner maximum Dalit votes. This will also be included in the manifesto.

BRS claims that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is a leader fighting for the cause of Dalits and has implemented schemes like Dalit Bandhu. Party leaders are explaining the welfare measures taken for Scheduled Castes, such as the installation of a 125-foot statue of Ambedkar and the naming of the new secretariat after Ambedkar. Congress also announced Dalit welfare promises of raising SC-ST reservation to 18 per cent and 12 per cent respectively, reservation in government contract appointments, new ITIs and Rs 6 lakh per family for house construction.