Dilemmas of Dalit Movement in Maharashtra-Unity Moves and After

The latest attempt, abortive once again, to unite the different factions of the Republican Party in Maharashtra raises two questions. Should the dalit movement narrow its focus to the problems of the socially mobile/articulate elements among them or should it, even at a price, give precedence to the more backward among the scheduled castes? Second, should not the dalit leaders now aim to broaden their horizons even further and take up questions affecting the rural poor as a whole?