NEW DELHI: The political class rushed to embrace and celebrate B R Ambedkar with generous tributes on his 135th birth anniversary, adding to celebrations by his followers across cities, and cementing the icon’s status as the sole bipartisan figure on the contemporary socio-political firmament.
Political biggies PM Modi, Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi among others gathered for annual garlanding and floral tributes at the Ambedkar statue in Parliament complex.
The celebrations from politicians merged seamlessly with the many roadshows and bus trips to Ambedkar parks taken out by Ambedkar’s supporters.
If Ambedkar is enjoying a pan-political popularity which appears unprecedented in post-independent India, it is largely owing to the emancipator having emerged as the bridge to the sprawling Dalit populace that forms a critical vote base for parties. The success of opposition’s “Constitution in danger” campaign during 2024 LS polls appears to be egging parties to make full-throttled attempts to appropriate Ambedkar.
