NEW DELHI: The Delhi BJP, which has not won even one single reserved Assembly seat in the National Capital after 2008, plans a massive outreach programme through its ‘Bhim Mahasangam’ rally on November 25 at Ram Lila Maidan. The saffron party’s SC wing, which is organizing the Mahasangam, claims that lakhs of people will be attending the event. The Mahasangam is aimed at strengthening the party’s hold on the sizeable Dalit community in Delhi.
In the absence of strong candidates from the BJP in the past, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party managed to wrest away the seats. Learning its lessons, the BJP is determined not to give up those seats that easily.“The objective of this public meeting is to spread the message of benefits that can be availed through the public welfare schemes launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. We hope that through the Bhim Mahasangam, we will be able to make our case stronger within the community, especially the youth,” said Mohan Lal Gihara, president of BJP SC Morcha.
Currently, Delhi has 12 Assembly (total 70) and one Lok Sabha (total seven) seat —North West Delhi — which are reserved for the SC category. Bawana has got the largest number of SC voters when it comes to Assembly seats. This crucial seat is with the ruling AAP.
“So, in order to turn that tide and make an impact across all the reserve constituencies, this rally will help us. The meeting will generate enthusiasm for our workers, members and encourage them to actively focus on policies related to the Dalit community launched by the Centre. We have sent invitations to our senior leaders for the event,” said a source in the party. Incidentally, the AAP, which drew a blank in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections but won a landslide majority in the Assembly election, has recently formed its SC wing to woo voters from the backward community.