The ever-evolving mosaic of India’s political landscape reveals a compelling narrative about the Congress party, once the colossus of Indian politics, now mired in a steady decline. A significant factor contributing to this descent is the perception of “Brahmanisation” — the ascendancy of Brahmin ideology and leadership within the party without the same getting translated into votes. To revive its dwindling fortunes and mount a formidable challenge against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress must pivot towards “Bahujanisation,” a paradigm shift that empowers the vast and varied tapestry of marginalised communities.
Historical context and political implications
The Congress party, steeped in history and tradition, has long been perceived as the bastion of Brahmin leadership. This dominance has fostered an aura of elitism, alienating the Dalits, Adivasis, and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) — the very heart and soul of the Indian electorate. In Uttar Pradesh, where these communities constitute a significant portion of the population, this Brahmin-centric approach has led to the erosion of the Congress’s support base. These communities, feeling overlooked and underrepresented, have gradually drifted into the embrace of other political entities.
Illustration: Pariplab Chakraborty
BJP’s drastic transformation
In a stark contrast, the BJP, once pigeonholed as a party of the upper castes, has adeptly transformed its image over the past two decades. Initially reliant on alliances with parties representing backward and Dalit communities to secure a foothold in power, the BJP has metamorphosed into a seemingly inclusive entity, garnering robust support from the OBCs while retaining its core ideology. This strategic evolution has enabled the BJP to command the political arena, as evidenced by its triumphant acquisition of 79% of the upper-caste vote in Uttar Pradesh during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, despite Congress’s alliance with the Samajwadi Party (SP).
Inclusivity and representation
To regain its lost stature, the Congress must wholeheartedly embrace Bahujanisation, prioritising the leadership and voices of Dalits, Adivasis, and OBCs. Historically, the Congress party has held sway in Uttar Pradesh until independent leadership emerged from these communities, championed by stalwarts like Kanshi Ram of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Mulayam Singh Yadav of the SP, Chaudhary Ajit Singh of the Rashtriya Lok Dal, etc. As these communities awakened politically, they perceived that the Congress sought their votes while perpetuating Brahmin hegemony. This epiphany catalysed the Congress party’s decline as these communities gravitated towards parties that mirrored their identities and aspirations.
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Emulating the BJP’s stratagem
The BJP’s adeptness in promoting leaders from backward communities such as Yadavs in Madhya Pradesh, Sainis in Haryana and tribal leaders in Chhattisgarh and Odisha, without alienating its upper-caste support base is a crucial lesson for the Congress. The BJP’s nimble navigation to avoid being typecast as a Brahmin-dominated entity while sustaining its upper-caste support underscores the essence of inclusive representation in achieving political ascendancy.
Surmounting internal resistance
A formidable challenge on the path to Bahujanisation is the internal resistance from the Congress party’s entrenched upper caste leadership in the state. In Uttar Pradesh, where the party’s state president and key decision-makers are predominantly upper-caste including the likes of Pramod Tiwari, Avinash Pande, Aradhana Misra Mona, Ajay Rai and Rajeev Shukla. Most of its upper caste leaders have shown reluctance to push Rahul Gandhi’s social justice narratives, including advocacy for caste-based census. This lack of support signals an internal schism that Rahul Gandhi must address to realign the party’s trajectory towards Bahujanisation.
Embracing the ethos of social justice
Rahul Gandhi’s vow to social justice and inclusivity must become the bedrock of the Congress’s renaissance. By marginalising leaders resistant to change and fostering a new cadre reflective of India’s diverse populace, the Congress party can rekindle its rapport with the electorate. This transformative shift would not only enhance the party’s allure among the marginalised communities but also manifest a sincere dedication to addressing their plights and aspirations.
Demographic dynamics and changing election template in Uttar Pradesh
In Uttar Pradesh, the demographics are strikingly diverse. Muslims, comprising approximately 19% of the state’s populace, have long served as a pivotal fulcrum in the electoral balance. Yet, the tableau of elections both within the state and on a national stage has undergone a profound metamorphosis over the past decade. Gone are the days of multifaceted electoral contests; until 2012, a 25-28% vote share was often a golden ticket to victory. Now, the political arena has distilled into a sharp dichotomy, and for the Congress to remain a viable contender, it must secure an augmented vote bank, aiming for nothing less than a 40-45% share to guarantee triumph.
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To amass this crucial additional support, the party must not only champion Dalit and OBC leadership but also weave a tapestry of genuine social equality. Mere rhetoric will no longer suffice; the party must cultivate and elevate new leaders from these communities, ensuring their voices resonate powerfully within the state’s political symphony.
Dalits constituting about 21% and the OBCs around 42% form a substantial majority. The Congress’s upper-caste leadership has failed to connect with these communities, with 79% of upper-caste voters swinging to the BJP, according to the CSDS survey. This demographic shift highlights the urgent need for the grand old party to rebuild its base among the Dalits and OBCs.
The road ahead
The Congress stands at a pivotal juncture where its survival and resurgence hinge on its ability to metamorphose. The lessons gleaned from the BJP’s strategic inclusivity and the historical context of its own decline underscore the necessity of transcending Brahmanisation. Embracing Bahujanisation, with its assurance of inclusive representation and social justice, is not merely a strategic imperative for the Congress party but a moral one. This transformation, though arduous, is essential for the Congress to mount a formidable challenge against the BJP and reestablish itself as the true harbinger of the diverse and vibrant Indian democracy.
The Congress orchestrated a laudable spectacle in Uttar Pradesh during the recently concluded 2024 Lok Sabha elections, garnering more votes than the BSP contesting on less than 1/4th the seats that the BSP contested and capturing six seats — its most stellar performance in the state since the 2009 Lok Sabha polls. Yet, how long can this ephemeral success be sustained, merely buoyed by Rahul Gandhi’s pledges? The hour has come for Congress to transmute its proclamations into palpable deeds.
To initiate this metamorphosis, the party could enthrone a Dalit or OBC leader to helm its endeavours in the state, thus planting seeds of genuine inclusivity. Furthermore, a profound reformation of its political affairs committee is imperative. This body is presently an edifice of upper caste hegemony with 44 members —around 70%, including 16 upper caste Muslims — contrasted starkly by a paltry 11 OBCs and an almost invisible representation of Dalits at six. Such a skewed mosaic demands reconfiguration to mirror a tapestry of inclusivity and equitable leadership, ensuring the Congress does not merely whisper of equality but enacts it in its very sinews.
Read all of The Wire’s reporting on and analysis of the 2024 election results here.
