From Bahujan to Hindujan?: BJP?s Reconfiguration of Marginalised Castes in Uttar Pradesh

Amit Kumar Yadav

Abstract: This paper examines the transformation of caste politics in Uttar Pradesh between 2014 and 2024, focusing on the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) strategic mobilisation of marginalised castes, particularly Dalits and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Historically rooted in upper-caste Hindu support, the BJP's political resurgence in UP marks a significant departure from traditional caste alignments dominated by regional parties like the BSP and SP. Through a combination of welfare schemes, symbolic inclusion, ideological narratives rooted in Hindutva, and strategic alliances with smaller caste-based parties, the BJP has successfully reconfigured caste coalitions without alienating its core vote base. This study employs a mixed-methods approach combining discourse analysis, interviews, and quantitative survey data to understand the mechanisms, motivations, and consequences of this shift. By critically engaging with the works of Christophe Jaffrelot, Suhas Palshikar, and Yogendra Yadav, the paper interrogates the implications of this realignment for democratic representation, political agency of subaltern castes, and the future of caste as a mobilizing identity in Indian politics. The findings reveal not just an electoral strategy but a deeper socio-political restructuring with long-term consequences for caste-based assertion and democratic participation.

Keywords: Caste Politics, BJP, Dalits, OBCs, Hindutva, Electoral Strategy, Subaltern, Democracy, Identity Politics, Welfare Schemes, Caste Realignment, Mandal Politics

How to Cite?: Amit Kumar Yadav, "From Bahujan to Hindujan?: BJP?s Reconfiguration of Marginalised Castes in Uttar Pradesh", Volume 14 Issue 7, July 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 684-687, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=MR25713034933, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/MR25713034933