During a recent meeting at Congress headquarters, Rahul Gandhi attributed the rise of Dalit parties to the Congress's historical neglect of the Dalit community, particularly during the 1980s and 90s. He stated that had the Congress taken adequate measures for Dalits, regional caste-based parties would not have emerged. Gandhi praised Kanshi Ram, the founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party, for his role in uniting Dalits and instilling confidence in them. He criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for undermining regional parties and eroding Dalit rights, asserting that the Congress will prioritize Dalit issues and ensure they hold a central role in the party. This approach follows Gandhi's previous acknowledgment of neglect towards the Other Backward Classes (OBC) community. With the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections approaching, Gandhi is intensifying efforts to connect with Dalit and backward classes, including unveiling a statue of a Dalit freedom fighter and advocating for a caste census. The effectiveness of these strategies will be tested in the upcoming elections.