BJP's Strategy in Haryana: How A Battle for Jat and Dalit Vote Banks is Unfolding?

Haryana Assembly Elections: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is gearing up for a tough battle in Haryana, aiming for a third consecutive term in power. However, this time, the party faces stiff competition from the Congress. The Congress has made significant inroads into the Jat vote bank by putting forwardthe leadership of Bhupendra Singh Hooda and his son, Deependra Singh Hooda. 

This move is expected to swing a substantial portion of the Jat community's support towards Congress. In this context, Congress is confident about its appeal among the Jat community, Dalit voters, and Muslims. Meanwhile, the BJP is employing a strategy similar to its approach in Uttar Pradesh by trying to attract support from a wide array of communities in Haryana.

Demographic Landscape of Haryana

Haryana's population is diverse, with the Jat community constituting more than 22% of the state's population. Scheduled Castes (SC) make up about 21%, followed by Punjabis at 8%, Brahmins at 7.5%, Vaishyas at 5%, Jat Sikhs at 4%, and Rajputs at 3.5%. Smaller communities, such as the Gurjars and others, also account for 3.5% of the population. 

BJP's strategy is to appeal to the largest group—the Jats—while also courting Dalits, backward classes, and other communities like Punjabis, Brahmins, Rajputs, Gurjars, and Sikhs. A key part of the BJP's electoral strategy is to create maximum voter dispersion among communities that do not fully support the party, thereby dividing the votes.

Jayant Chaudhary: BJP’s Ace for the Jat Vote

To gain ground in the Jat vote bank, the BJP has decided to promote Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary, a prominent leader of the Jat and Farmers Party in the adjacent western Uttar Pradesh. By allocating some seats to Chaudhary's party, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), in the Haryana elections, the BJP aims to send a message that it values the Jat community. Jayant Chaudhary will also be a key figure in the BJP’s campaign in Haryana.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has accused former Chief Minister Bhupendra Singh Hooda of exploiting the Jats both socially and politically during his tenure from 2005 to 2014. Saini claims that despite being the Chief Minister twice, Hooda did not deliver significant benefits to the Jat community. In election rallies, such as the one held in Tosham, the Jat community has reportedly shown a willingness to support the BJP.

 

Efforts to Win Over Dalit Voters

Besides the Jat community, the BJP is also focusing on other critical communities that could influence the election outcome. The Scheduled Castes, who account for around 21% of Haryana’s population, represent another major voter group. The BJP hopes to secure Dalit votes by highlighting its public welfare schemes.

The BJP’s electoral strategy involves targeting the alliances of INLD’s Abhay Chautala and BSP’s Mayawati, as well as Dushyant Chautala and Chandrashekhar, to create a division in the Dalit and Jat vote banks. Meanwhile, Congress is expected to leverage the political differences between Bhupendra Singh Hooda and Kumari Shailaja to paint its rivals as being anti-Dalit.

Wooing Brahmin Voters through Mohan Lal Badoli

To strengthen its appeal among various voter groups, the BJP has also focused on the Brahmin community, which makes up around 7.5% of Haryana’s population. The party has appointed Mohan Lal Badoli, a prominent Brahmin leader, as the state president of Haryana to garner support from this community. Additionally, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, an OBC leader, has been emphasizing his connection to both the Jat and farming communities to consolidate support from backward class voters, aiming to unite them under the BJP’s banner.

As Haryana heads towards elections, the BJP is leaving no stone unturned in its quest to secure a third consecutive term. By deploying a multi-pronged strategy aimed at winning over a broad spectrum of communities, the BJP is attempting to counter Congress's efforts to consolidate the Jat, Dalit, and Muslim votes. The outcome of this electoral battle will hinge on which party can better navigate the complex socio-political landscape of Haryana.