The struggle of the Dalits for justice, for their rightful place in Indian Democracy has reached a decisive stage. It has been a long drawn out movement for equality and dignity, elimination of untouchability from public and private spaces, and slow economic measures through constitutional, legal and policy instruments such as the reservation policy, Untouchability Act, SC / ST (prevention of atrocities) act, and special component plans. Despite Dr. Ambedkar’s untiring efforts, the concept of a separate electorate for the Dalits was never allowed to see the light of the day by the Brahmanical order; but Dalits still struggled with the limited means such as reserved constituencies and also the reservation
of seats in Panchayats and local bodies under the 73rd  & 74th constitutional amendments. Today we are witnessing unprecedented levels of political participation by Dalits in many parts of the country, a sea change in the power equations in some states through strategic social and political engineering which has its basis in electoral politics. The time tested equations of vote bank politics are being transformed with eloquent Dalit and OBC leaders emerging on the electoral and political scenario.

But equally powerful are the efforts to undermine the aspirations of the Dalit communities for political participation. Let us remember that the Brahmanical forces are threatened by this increasing aspirations and endeavours of the Dalits and other marginalized communities for political participation. This is bound to and is leading to violent backlashes from the anxious upper caste interests across the political spectrum. At the local level this increasingly manifests in rivalry among caste groups in the run up to elections, in an effort to secure the numbers game. This is also being accompanied by other forms of political mobilization by Brahmanical forces using polarization of society along communal lines, employing violence wherever required. The position of Dalit communities is precarious in this dangerous form of politics.

Even after 62 years of independence it is a travesty of justice that Dalit communities in a significant number of regions are unable to exercise their right of franchise in a free and fair manner as envisaged in the constitution. All this, in spite of the fact that our constitution guarantees equality before law, right of franchise to all citizens regardless of caste, creed, sex or religion; and in spite of the fact that we have excellent provisions against electoral offences in the Representation of the People Act, Cr.P.C. and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

It is in this context that the National Dalit Election Watch (NDEW) is being conceived and instituted. The Right of Franchise is a fundamental right and it is through the exercise of this right that any democracy is sustained and strengthened. Through National Dalit Election Watch (NDEW) we intend to uphold one of the most crucial dimensions of the political rights of Dalits; eliminate a primary obstacle to their political participation and assertion. This initiative is expected to mobilize a large number of volunteers and eminent citizens across the country in defence of the right of franchise, leading to widespread political awareness among large sections of the Dalit population and society at large. We hope that NDEW would emerge as a significant civil society process that upholds and further strengthens our democracy.