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| The more Smriti Irani rose in BJP, the more Dalit votes appeared to flee from the party. |
July 10, 2016, NewsCrunch
District-level BSP leaders are reportedly circulating copies of Smriti Irani's famous Parliament speech, in which she snubbed Mayawati.
That may be one of the keys to explain Smriti Irani's political downfall.
The relationship between Smriti Irani and media was acrimonious and personal. Even days after the reshuffle, media continues to analyse what got her the boot.
Indian Express, sums up all possible reasons, in a provocatively titled article The shrinking of Smriti Irani.
Among so many other reasons that led to her ouster, the Dalit factor made a contribution; the more Smriti Irani rose in BJP, the more Dalit votes appeared to flee from the party.
The Rohit Vemula episode not only pitched the party against Dalits, it also turned Smriti Irani into a hated figure in the community.
Her famous speech in the Parliament in which she challenged Maywati may have won the immediate approval of Modi. But the political cost of it sank in gradually.
Mayawati is a Dalit icon and as a rule, other parties defer to that. And here was a hysterical Smriti Irani challenging and even humiliating Mayawati, under the glare of TV cameras.
The speech in which Smriti Irani offered to cut off her head and lay it at Mayawati's feet is being cleverly exploited by BSP.
Indian Express quotes a Dalit MP saying BSP’s district units are circulating the video of Smriti Irani challenging Mayawati and leaving the otherwise combative leader stunned.
The more people see it, the more Dalit anger builds up not only against Smriti Irani but also against BJP.
Given that Dalit votes are critical in UP, the party was left with little choice except shunting Smriti Irani to Siberia.
Another report in The Economic Times agrees with this assessment and states, BJP moved with alacrity to ensure Smriti Irani would not alienate Dalit votes in Punjab or UP.