India’s next president will come from marginalised Dalit caste, strengthening Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s re-election bid
Dalit support is even more important for the ruling BJP as it has mostly been shunned by Muslims, who make up about 14 per cent of the population
India’s next president will emerge from the Dalit caste – a community so marginalised they were once known as “untouchables” – with the victory of the ruling party candidate set to strengthen Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s grip on power.
Ram Nath Kovind, 71, is hot favourite to be elected on Monday by national and state lawmakers to become titular head of state as the candidate of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
It will be only the second time, after President K.R Narayanan, who served from 1997-2002, that a member of the downtrodden caste has assumed the post.
The result will be announced on Thursday. And for Modi, with one eye on re-election in 2019, it will send an important message to a key, long disdained electoral group.
Dalits, who number around 200 million, are among the poorest communities in India and have traditionally been relegated to activities on the margins of society.
Every [Indian] politician would want support from this 16 per cent voting bloc for any election
Despite legal protection, discrimination is rife and Dalits are routinely denied access to education and other opportunities for advancement.