New Delhi: Politics comes in many shades literally. Political parties are now attempting to woo the public through the colors of their attire. In this game of color-coded politics, other parties are keeping pace with the BJP. The Samajwadi Party (SP), the main opposition in the UP Legislative Assembly, has made a significant strategic move in this direction. The party has intensified efforts to strengthen its foothold among youth and Dalit voters.
As part of this strategy, the dress code for the party’s frontal wing the Chhatra Sabha (student wing) has been altered. Office-bearers and activists of the Chhatra Sabha will now be seen wearing blue jeans and blue T-shirts instead of the traditional red.
SP Sets Sights on Gen-Z Voters
The Samajwadi Party aims to defeat the BJP in the upcoming UP Assembly elections by entering the fray with a distinct strategy. Office-bearers and activists will appear in this new dress code at the Chhatra Sabha conference scheduled for September 8 in Lucknow. This decision by the SP is also being viewed as merely an organizational change.
However, it is also being interpreted as an attempt to connect with Gen-Z voters alongside engaging in Dalit politics. Previously, all SP activists wore red gamchas (traditional scarves) around their necks, but the color has now completely changed; party workers, along with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, are now seen sporting blue gamchas.
SP Seeks to Sharpen its Appeal via the Color Blue
Colors carry distinct political messages in Uttar Pradesh’s political landscape. The BSP’s blue color is associated with Dalit politics and the ideology of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, while the SP has long been identified with the color red. Given this context, prioritizing the color blue in the Chhatra Sabha’s dress code is considered politically significant.
Colors convey unique political messages in the politics of Uttar Pradesh. The blue color associated with the Bahujan Samaj Party is linked to Dalit politics and the ideology of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, whereas the Samajwadi Party has long been identified with the colors red and green.
In this context, giving prominence to the color blue in the student wing’s (Chhatra Sabha) dress code is considered politically significant. It is viewed as an attempt to more firmly integrate the Dalit community into the SP’s ‘PDA’ equation—comprising Pichhda (Backward Classes), Dalit, and Alpsankhyak (Minorities).
Gains from the PDA formula in 2024
For the past few years, the Samajwadi Party has been striving to expand its reach beyond its traditional Yadav-Muslim support base and make inroads into the Dalit vote bank. The party aggressively promoted the PDA formula during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and reaped benefits from it in the results. Simultaneously, the party is focusing specifically on young Dalit voters. The student wing is being assigned a crucial role in strengthening the organization among youth active in colleges and universities.
Efforts to engage Gen-Z and Dalit youth
Through this new dress code, the SP aims to convey a political message to young people active in college and university politics. The color blue is also perceived as being linked to Dalit identity and Ambedkarite ideology.
Consequently, this move by the SP is seen as a key part of its strategy to increase acceptance among Dalit youth and align them with the PDA framework. Moreover, the revised dress code for the student wing is interpreted not merely as a change in attire, but as a significant political maneuver to woo young and Dalit voters ahead of the 2027 elections.
