The Purvanchali factor in Capital elections

September 28, 2024 — a meeting of a major political party was on in Rajasthan discussing the composition of voters in Delhi.

"Why is the term Purvanchali not being used to recognise the voters from UP and Bihar," a senior leader questioned when a presentation was being made to understand the composition, which was roughly 17% for people of UP and nearly 7% Bihar natives residing in the Capital.

"Sir, this is just to understand the number of voters from every region residing in Delhi," the leader was told. Not fully satisfied but the leader moved on and discussion on other topics continued. The takeaway was "not to take the Purvanchali voters lightly".

The "Purvanchalis", which refer to those residents of Capital who trace their roots to eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand, account for nearly 25% of Delhi voters — a substantial vote bank of value for any party.

The importance of Purvanchali voters can be understood from the fact that months ago almost every major party had started strategising on how to woo the voters who hail from that region. The Capital is filled with Purvanchali voters in eastern, northeastern and northwestern areas.

Among the political clans, the shift of Purvanchali vote bank in one direction is considered as a make or break move for any political party or its candidate. Political pundits say the Purvanchalis can affect the political landscape on more than 25 Assembly seats in Delhi.

Chhath Puja, a major festival for people of UP, Bihar and Jharkhand, is a holiday in Delhi. Constructing dedicated ghats on the Yamuna for Chhatth Puja is like an everyday promise. The Congress went a step ahead and has this time promised building a grand Chhath Puja Ghat akin to the iconic Maha Kumbh structures.

The political parties are trying to strike a chord with the Purvanchali voter base, using all kinds of strategies. Calling leaders from those areas, building up communication and that too in local language are some of the key points.

The BJP's star campaigner Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will start electioneering for the elections from January 23 and address 14 public meetings in various Assembly constituencies of Delhi.

While back home, caste-based arithmetic may have ruled the politics for decades, in Delhi, the way Purvanchalis exercise their franchise is somewhat different.

It is not like the Purvanchalis in Delhi are recently arrived migrants, but a major chunk among them have been living in the city for decades. "I will not see the face and caste of a candidate when I go to vote on February 8. I will see whether there are facilities available in the area where I am residing," Puja Kumari, a 32-year-old school teacher residing in Ashok Nagar said.

Amidst the dance of democracy, the community has become the epicentre of a fierce political tug-of-war, especially after controversial remarks of BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala which were not taken in a good taste. Poonawala later tendered an unconditional apology.

Before that AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal claimed the BJP was ‘smuggling in’ people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to ‘manufacture’ fake votes. While both BJP and Congress, tried to snowball Kejriwal's remarks into a major controversy, the AAP timely controlled the damage by recounting the works it has done for the people in the past decade.

Pertinent to mention here is that a major population of Purvanchali voters even resides in JJ clusters and extremely under-developed areas. For them, the ground issues are endless, promises undelivered for decades, and a life of misery.

The political parties may be busy canvassing with drums and trumpets, a Purvanchali voter, sitting quietly in his or her shanty or a house, is quietly analysing the political landscape and will deliver the verdict on February 5.