The 2017 Uttar Pradesh Election: How BJP Redefined Caste Politics

The 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election was a watershed moment in Indian politics, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) clinching an overwhelming 312 of 403 seats, shattering the caste-based dominance of the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). This case study dissects how the BJP, through strategic social engineering, governance promises, and unparalleled organizational strength, dismantled entrenched caste politics and reshaped Uttar Pradesh’s political landscape.

The Incumbents: SP and BSP’s Caste-Based Fortresses

Uttar Pradesh’s politics had long been shaped by caste allegiances, with SP and BSP leveraging targeted voter bases:

• Samajwadi Party (SP): Anchored by its Muslim-Yadav (MY) coalition, representing roughly 20% of the electorate, SP’s strength lay in its robust local leadership and focus on community-specific interests.
• Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP): Led by Mayawati, BSP commanded loyalty from Dalits, particularly Jatavs (12-14% of voters), bolstered by a disciplined cadre that ensured high voter turnout.
• Local Machinery: Both parties excelled at grassroots mobilization, with local leaders adept at navigating caste dynamics to secure votes.

The BJP’s Strategic Blueprint

Despite its 2014 national triumph, the BJP faced the daunting task of penetrating SP and BSP’s caste strongholds. In 2017, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah, the BJP deployed a multi-pronged strategy to counter its rivals’ strengths.

1. Unifying Hindu Identity Over Caste Fragmentation

• Opponents’ Strength: SP and BSP thrived on consolidating specific caste and religious vote banks.
• BJP’s Counter: The BJP promoted a pan-Hindu identity with the slogan “justice for all, appeasement of none,” subtly critiquing SP’s perceived minority favoritism. This resonated with non-Yadav OBCs (30% of voters) and upper castes (20%), diluting caste-based loyalties. Exit polls showed 70% of upper-caste voters and 50% of non-Yadav OBCs backed the BJP, a significant shift from 2012.

2. Exploiting Law and Order Failures

• Opponents’ Strength: SP’s tenure was plagued by accusations of “goonda raj” (hooliganism), with high-profile incidents like the 2016 Mathura clashes fueling public discontent. BSP’s past governance also faced criticism for lawlessness.
• BJP’s Counter: The BJP’s campaign hammered SP’s law and order failures, promising “Sushasan” (good governance). This narrative struck a chord with voters, particularly women and rural communities, frustrated by insecurity and corruption. The BJP’s pledge for decisive administration positioned it as a credible alternative.

3. Harnessing Modi’s Charisma and Development Agenda

• Opponents’ Strength: SP and BSP relied on regional leaders like Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati, focusing on state-specific issues.
• BJP’s Counter: The BJP leveraged Modi’s national appeal, linking Uttar Pradesh’s progress to central schemes like Ujjwala Yojana and Jan Dhan Yojana. The slogan “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” (Together with all, Development for all) offered an inclusive vision of growth, appealing to aspirational voters. Surveys indicated 60% of voters viewed Modi’s leadership favorably, amplifying the BJP’s campaign.

4. Social Engineering to Capture Marginalized Castes

• Opponents’ Strength: SP’s grip on Yadavs and BSP’s on Jatavs was near-absolute.
• BJP’s Counter: The BJP targeted non-Yadav OBCs (e.g., Kurmis, Mauryas) and non-Jatav Dalits (e.g., Pasis, Valmikis), who felt sidelined within SP and BSP’s hierarchies. By fielding 150 OBC and 80 Dalit candidates, promoting local leaders, and highlighting benefits from central schemes, the BJP fractured these vote banks. Exit polls estimated the BJP won 40% of non-Jatav Dalit votes, a “silent revolution” compared to BSP’s 80% Dalit vote share in 2012.

5. Organizational Supremacy at the Grassroots

• Opponents’ Strength: SP and BSP’s cadres were skilled at mobilizing their bases.
• BJP’s Counter: Backed by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the BJP executed a meticulous booth-level strategy. Over 100,000 workers conducted door-to-door campaigns, verified voter lists, and ensured high turnout (61% overall, with BJP strongholds seeing 65%+). This organizational edge outstripped SP and BSP’s traditional ground game.

Opposition’s Weaknesses: A Missed Opportunity

The SP-Congress alliance and BSP failed to counter the BJP’s juggernaut due to internal limitations:

• SP-Congress Alliance: Infighting within SP’s Yadav family and a poorly coordinated alliance with Congress diluted their campaign. The alliance’s focus on the MY vote bank alienated other castes.
• BSP’s Inflexibility: Mayawati’s over-reliance on Jatavs and failure to broaden her appeal left BSP vulnerable to BJP’s outreach to non-Jatav Dalits. Her limited campaign energy contrasted with BJP’s relentless mobilization.

The Outcome: A Political Tsunami

The 2017 results were a seismic shift. The BJP’s 312 seats (39.7% vote share) secured a three-fourths majority, while the SP-Congress alliance plummeted to 54 seats (28% vote share) and BSP to 19 (22.2%). This victory ended decades of caste-based dominance, establishing the BJP as Uttar Pradesh’s preeminent force.

Image source: Times of India

Key Takeaways

The BJP’s 2017 triumph offers enduring lessons in political strategy:

• Redefining Identity Politics: A unifying narrative can dilute caste divisions, as seen in the BJP’s pan-Hindu appeal.
• Exploiting Governance Gaps: Highlighting rivals’ failures, like SP’s law and order lapses, can sway frustrated voters.
• National Appeal: Modi’s charisma elevated a state election into a national referendum on development.
• Social Engineering: Targeting marginalized castes can fracture entrenched vote banks, as evidenced by the BJP’s gains among non-Yadav OBCs and non-Jatav Dalits.
• Organizational Excellence: Booth-level mobilization is critical to converting strategy into votes.

The 2017 Uttar Pradesh election remains a masterclass in overcoming identity-based politics through strategic narrative-building, inclusive outreach, and relentless ground mobilization, cementing the BJP’s dominance in India’s most pivotal state.