The Politics of Apna Dal: Navigating the Landscape of Single-Caste Parties in Uttar Pradesh, India

• VIPIN PATEL

• TAUSIF AHMAD

  Indira Gandhi National Open University

This study examines the political ascent of Apna Dal in Uttar Pradesh, focusing on the core research gap: how single-caste parties sustain influence beyond identity mobilization through strategic alliances and organizational tactics. While existing scholarship highlights the role of caste-based mobilization, there is a notable research gap in understanding the strategic alliances and organizational processes that enable such parties to sustain influence amid political fragmentation. Guiding this analysis is a theoretical framework rooted in identity politics and coalition theory, emphasizing the interplay between social recognition and political pragmatism. The core argument positions Apna Dal’s success as a "contingent success" model, where pragmatic coalition-building with larger entities and territorial concentration of its Kurmi vote base strategically overcome the limitations of a narrow social base. Key findings demonstrate that the party’s durable influence hinges on strategic coalitional opportunism rather than deep institutionalization, making its power disproportionate to its size. However, this leader-centric approach results in organizational fragility, evidenced by succession crises. The study concludes that Apna Dal exemplifies how caste-centric parties leverage strategic adaptability to secure political leverage and policy influence.

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