Dalits backed Akhilesh Yadav in 2024. Now Chirag Paswan wants to win them over

Akhilesh Yadav and Chirag Paswan. (Express File Photos: vishal Srivastava and Tashi Tobgyal) 7 min readNew DelhiAug 21, 2026 03:13 AM IST First published on: Aug 20, 2026 at 01:26 PM IST With the Samajwadi Party (SP) having cornered significant Dalit votes in Uttar Pradesh in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, contributing to the BJP’s diminished tally of 33 seats in the state – down from the 62 it won in 2019 – ally Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) is preparing to come to the rescue as a potential disruptor in the poll equation. Founded by Ram Vilas Paswan and now led by his son Union Minister Chirag Paswan, the Bihar-based LJP (RV) is making a significant push to expand its footprint in UP and contest the elections next year in a big way. Its focus: non-Jatav Dalit votes.