Bhim Army Chief plays key role in RLD's Khatauli win

Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad's role in swinging the decisive Dalit votes towards the RLD in Khatauli has come into sharp focus in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls with his successful demonstration that he can provide the missing piece to the Samajwadi Party-RLD combine to win western Uttar Pradesh.

Azad, chief of the Azad Samaj Party, which works for cause of Dalit welfare and has influence in pockets of Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor and adjoining areas, had tied up with the RLD ahead of the Khatauli assembly by-election.

Muslims are the largest voting bloc in the seat, followed by Dalits. While the RLD was sure of support from Jats, Muslims and a section of Gurjars, the BJP was primarily banking on the support of other backward classes such as Gurjars, Sainis, Kashyaps, Prajapatis and Thakurs.