Bheem Army's Future: Political or Social?

In the last two years Bhim Army founded by Chandrashekhar Azad 'Raavan' and Vinay Ratan have scaled the height of popularity. Their cadre is increasing in leaps and bounds. Political parties are approaching, appreciating, negating, criticizing their work, all at one or the other. 

A large section of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled tribes and Muslim population is praising their efforts, at the same time a large section of the same criticizing their work simultaneously. According to a rough estimate of Kapil Azad (District President of Gautam Budha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh) Bhim Army has a strength of 2 crores(approximately) across the length and breadth of the nation, with highest concentration in Maharashta. Most of their numbers constitutes of those dalit youth who had been the supporter, sympathizer and active member of BSP.

At the time of writing this article, Bhim Army stands as non-registered social organization. However their increasing strength has widen the eyes of Congress, AAP, BSP, and in Toto of left, right and centre.

FUTURE POSSIBILITIES OF BHIM ARMY:-

With a nationwide cadre the most probable question hits the mind of a politics expert about the future probabilities of Bhim Army. Will they remain as a non political, non registered social organisation or will they transition themselves into a political force by stepping in active politics to fill the void created by continuous defeat of BSP.

In the recent past Bhim Army had not amicable relations with biggest name in Dalit arena i.e; BSP viz-a-viz Mayawati. Mayawati at times had criticized their work and portrayed Chandrashekhar as "BJP's Agent" who is implanted to work out a divide politics among dalit counts. Citing apprehension of BSP, Congress (Priyanka Gandhi, Raj Babbar & Jyotiraditya Scindia) approached Chandrashekhar. Chandrashekhar and Bhim Army had supported the local congress leader in latest general election. However, sensing the political situation an explanation was provided by Bhim Army spokesperson that the support to local congress leader was not support to congress rather was a support to the candidate because of his support to Bhim Army When no one was there for their support during tough times.

WHAT IF......?
a) Bhim Army remains as social organisation ? and
b) Bhim Army transforms itself into a political party or start a political wing of its own?

The first possibility and explanation being provided after extending support to non dalit party (congress), gives clear indication of Bhim Army limiting themselves into very limited role restricted to mobilizing and supporting the existing Dalit parties (BSP most probably). However Mayawati's serious allegations over Chandrashekhar had already created a wide trench between BSP and Bhim Army.

In the second case there is high possibility of Chadrashekhar to occupy space left by Mayawati and BSP. A high migration of BSP's dalit youth cadre is a serious cause behind this phenomenon.

In first case, BSP might feel at ease as there would be no or less competition among votes. And if Bhim Army in capacity of social organization does not extend its support to BSP, then Mayawati had a chance to testify his remark of Chandrashekhar being a 'BJP Agent'. In the second case BSP, other dalit parties might find themselves in troubled waters citing dividation of Dalit &Muslim votes.

In the first case, the already exhausted and frustrated cadre of BSP may or may not feel at secure end. In second case there is high possibility that exhausted cadre of BSP find a new lease of life under the political arm of Bhim Army. This analysis is based on the easy approachableness of Chadrashekhar as compared to Mayawati which is next to impossible for a common dalit youth to imagine.

In the first case, other political parties like BJP, Congress, AAP or Samajwadi Party could find it difficult to retain their dalit sympathezisers and cadre in the backdrop of notion of dalits getting united under one banner (i.e. BSP+Bhim Army) and would have positive connotation on BSP while negative on BJP, Congress AAP and other non dalit parties. In second case, the reaction of other political parties would depemd on the ability of Chandrashekhar to mobilize thre most of dalit count and a considerable count od ST, OBC and muslim counts.

Analyzing current complexities and almost no response from BSP to Chnadrashekhar, his raising popularity and slowdown of BSP might prove as strong reason behind transformation of Bhim Army into a political party.

- Arvind V. Prakash

(Student of History @Panjab University, Chandigarh)