The Political strategies for the Scheduled Caste: What can history teach us?

Despite of the handicaps imposed on them by the caste system and poverty, the Scheduled Castes have education in politics and political process enabling them to have access of power on all levels.

1. Opening the doors of political power: Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and his political movement

Whether the Scheduled Caste or the Scheduled Tribe contest the election as a reserved candidate from any party, they need to be grateful to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar for he was one who opened up the door of political power to them. Though, he opened the doors of political power to them, the more powerful and organised parties started co-opting the Scheduled Caste.

The representation divided into a spectrum of political parties and political ideologies lost the organized and true power that would have come to the Scheduled Caste and had there been a Separate Electorate. The independent Scheduled Caste politics is thus handicapped by the scheme of reserved seats. Given this handicap and social equality, the Scheduled Castes came to power of their own and in some cases were allies in the power. 

Whatever the handicaps, the sheer zeal, well defined ideology, and political education under the leadership of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar enabled the community to access power and gain electoral successes.

2. The Bombay Municipal Corporation ( BMC) and Bombay Province: A case study

In 1957, P.T. Borale of the Scheduled Caste Federation became the Mayor of Bombay. For anyone who knows the political history of Maharashtra understands the role of winning BMC elections as a door to winning Maharasthra. The success of Scheduled Castes was repeated in Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC).

This strategy of conquering the cities and municipal corporations shows an interesting feature that can built the power at the state levels and eventually at national levels. The independent political party creates an opportunity to come to power and share powers with likeminded parties. In Bombay, the SCF had an alliance with the communists and socialists. 

Prior to this success in BMC election, P.T. Borale had emerged as a formidable union leader under the leadership of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. 

2. Independent Labour Party and Success in Bombay Province in 1937

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar worked with the working classes of Bombay who were majorly from the Dalit background since late 1920s. He came to be known as the labour leader eventually forming the Independent Labour Party and succeeded in winning 15 seats in Bombay Legislative Council then.

Bombay remained an important place for the Scheduled Caste power and the Congress started fielding Charmkars all over the places to counter Ambedkarite politics, though stalwarts like P.N.Rajabhoj remained unshakable in the Ambedkarite movement forever. As the case of Bombay will show, the Scheduled Castes from not only Marathi speaking backgrounds live there, but also Gujarati, Tamil, and Telugu speaking Dalits live in Mumbai in decisive number. 

That Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar could workout a winning alliance in 1937 and also bagged four general seats speaks volume of how the rainbow alliances can be created keeping the Scheduled Caste interest in the core. 

After losing the Bhandara election in 1954, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar realised that many non-Scheduled Caste voted for him and he was convinced that if right ideology and right candidates are fielded votes from others can be gained. The Republican Party of India (RPI) was to be a step in that direction of bringing leadership from different sections of the society. After the death of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, others did not join and the Ambedkarites politicians felt insecurity of others when Babasaheb had left in 1956. 

The key learning from this discussion is that the urban political spaces are relatively easy for the Scheduled Caste to capture power as the communities have resources, the people are easy to mobilize, and alliances are easy to form.  

3. The BSP: conquering the Panchayats, Zilla Parishads, and Municipalities 

Before winning UP with decisive majority in the UP Vidhan Sabha, Manyavar Kanshiram   predicted in 1999 that this was going to happen as by 1999 the BSP was one of the largest parties at the level of Panchayat, Zilla, and Municipalities. If any party has such a reach, it is not difficult to win at state level. 

4. There was never an Ambedkarite Party that could field candidates in Lok Sabha or Legislative Assemblies in all the states

Though the Scheduled Caste are living in all the villages, towns, and cities in India and are part of all the constituencies in significant numbers, the SCF, RPI, and the BSP could never contest all the Lok Sabha seats. This shows that if an all India Party  of Scheduled Caste is in the fray is in elections, it can become a decisive force and many will come forward to ally with us. 

What are our learnings?

1. It is possible to capture power

2. Politics must be treated as a mission for liberation and that it needs perseverance and patience to develop it.

3. Consolidating a political party which will be having an All India appeal

4. Rainbow alliances and shared leadership

5. Understanding politics as the game of possibilities hence keeping dynamic and pragmatic approach to alliances

6. The development of Ambedkar School of Politics 

7. The mobilisation of people and development of people's movement and forming alliances and solidarity between the movement

8. Focussing on urban spaces to generate resources and consolidate power