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Caste unrest will help Modi's party retain Dalit vote

Monday, August 7, 2017

Subject

Caste politics in India.

Significance

In a sign of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ability to shape the political agenda, the National Democratic Alliance's candidate Ram Nath Kovind was sworn in as India's 14th president on July 25. With attacks on Dalits (low castes) in the north Indian heartlands of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) surging, the nomination of a Dalit for the presidency was designed to strengthen the party's appeal to the community ahead of state elections.

Impacts

  • Support for the main opposition Congress party among Dalits will decline in Gujarat.
  • Beef and leather exports will fall despite the Supreme Court suspending the ban on trading cattle for slaughter.
  • Anti-Muslim violence may increase across the country.

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