Leadership reshuffle signals Congress strategy to consolidate Dalit support before crucial Uttar Pradesh elections.
The Congress, which is carrying out a major organisational rejig, has surprised many by appointing Rajendra Pal Gautam as its Uttar Pradesh in-charge, replacing senior Brahmin leader Avinash Pande ahead of the crucial Assembly elections scheduled next year.
Many within the party view the move as an attempt to consolidate Dalit votes, which had backed the INDIA bloc during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, dealing a surprise setback to the ruling BJP in the politically crucial state.
Gautam joined the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha elections after quitting the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). He was subsequently appointed chairman of the party’s SC Department, replacing Rajesh Lilothia.
His appointment came days after Gautam had attempted to meet Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati at her residence in Lucknow last month without any formal appointment. Pande had reportedly sought an explanation from Gautam over his attempt to meet Mayawati without prior approval.
Party insiders said Gautam’s appointment in Uttar Pradesh is being viewed as part of the Congress’s broader strategy to reach out to Dalit voters.
According to party insiders, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections conveyed a clear political message as Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi built his campaign around the issue of saving the Constitution.
The issue gained traction among weaker sections of society, which constitute a significant vote share in Uttar Pradesh, leading many of them to support the INDIA bloc partners, the Congress and the Samajwadi Party.
Congress won six seats, while the Samajwadi Party secured 37 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, delivering a major setback to the BJP and its NDA allies in the state.
The insider said the appointment of Gautam is part of the Congress’s strategy to make inroads among weaker sections that had remained loyal to Mayawati for several decades.
The insider also said that Mayawati’s declining influence among weaker sections, particularly Dalits, has created an opportunity for the Congress to regain political ground.
Another party leader, requesting anonymity, said Dalits were traditionally Congress voters before shifting towards Mayawati over the past few decades.
He said that with Mayawati no longer aggressively mobilising on the ground over the past five years, the Congress believes there is an opportunity to reconnect with Dalit voters.
Congress leader Surendra Rajput defended the decision to appoint Gautam as Uttar Pradesh in-charge and objected to describing him merely as a Dalit leader.
“Congress has been working among the people. Gautam is not a new activist. He has been working among Dalits and the public for several years. It is wrong to describe him only as a Dalit activist. He will work for every section of society,” Rajput said.
Congress leader Udit Raj echoed Rajput’s views, saying, “It is not about playing a Dalit card. It is about saving the Constitution, social justice and the rights of the people. Rahul Gandhi has consistently fought for social justice. That campaign helped the Congress and the Opposition in Uttar Pradesh in 2024. Otherwise, the Opposition would not have won so many seats.”
However, a section of party leaders believes the Congress should have appointed another Brahmin leader as Uttar Pradesh in-charge, arguing that the community has increasingly felt neglected by the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government.
The Samajwadi Party has also recently intensified efforts to woo Brahmin voters, sensing an electoral opportunity.
A senior party source said that just as Mayawati had successfully brought upper castes and Dalits together during the 2007 Assembly elections, the Congress and the Samajwadi Party could adopt a similar strategy by providing greater representation and a larger share of tickets to upper-caste candidates.
The source pointed out that Dalits constitute around 22 per cent of Uttar Pradesh’s population, of whom nearly 9 per cent belong to the Jatav community, traditionally considered the BSP’s core support base.
Brahmins account for roughly 15 per cent of the state’s population, while Thakurs constitute about 8 per cent.
According to the source, the Congress-Samajwadi Party alliance will require a carefully balanced social coalition capable of consolidating both upper-caste and Dalit voters ahead of next year’s Assembly elections.
The source added that Other Backward Classes (OBCs), particularly the Yadav community, account for around 12 per cent of the state’s population, while Muslims constitute nearly 19 per cent.
