Bihar Yatra on eve of state polls is witnessing big presence of Dalits
By Pradeep Kapoor
LUCKNIW:BSP national President of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Mayawati is mobilising party workers to organise massive show of strength at state capital Lucknow on October 9 on the occasion of death anniversary of the founder of the party and dalit thinker Kanshiram. Mayawati has realised unless she shows her strength before Bihar and UP elections, it would be very difficult to sustain her BSP party base.
During last few years, BSP witnessed mass exodus of senior leaders and workers to other parties. Even vote share also declined. Mayawati became chief minister thrice with the help of BJP. And in 2007, BSP came to power on its own Mayawati became chief minister.
After being voted out of power in 2012 state assembly polls, BSP registered sharp decline and started becoming irrelevant and lost its voice. Former chief minister Mayawati also remained indoor at her residence and very seldom she ventured out.
Mayawati was nowhere to be seen visiting dalits becoming victims in Uttar Pradesh or any other state in the country. BSP supremo Mayawati was seen advising Modi government at the centre and Yogi government in the state.
Mayawati was seen very critical of Samajwadi Party and Congress for poaching her dalit vote bank during last few elections. She also criticised Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for raising the issue of possible threat to rights of dalits and marginalised section and protecting the Constitution.
It would be worth mentioning here that Rahul Gandhi addressed the successful meetings all over the country while holding the copy of the Constitution and promising to safeguard the rights to dalits. He also raised the issue of caste census which was eventually accepted by Modi government.
Samajwadi Party leader and former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav also joined hands with Rahul Gandhi and raised the issues of dalits and marginalised sections of society. Joint campaign by Rahul and Akhilesh Yadav in 2024 Lok Sabha polls helped Congress and Samajwadi Party increasing their tally and BJP was humiliated and could not get the majority in Lok Sabha.
Realising all these developments ,Mayawati brought changes in the party from top to grass-root level. She made her nephew Akash Anand national coordinator and gave responsibility to revive party all over the country. All state units and other office-bearers will now report to him directly. Mayawati also constituted bhaichara samiti at the grass-root level to establish contact with other castes.
Significantly Mayawati announced that her party will contest in all seats in Bihar and will not join any other party or alliance. Mayawati’s nephew Akash Anand has started Sarv janhitai jagrookta yatra in Bihar from September 10.
Impressive gathering at public meeting of Akash Anand has surprised the political commentators that it would be interesting watch the outcome BSP yatra and future rallies of Mayawati in Bihar.
With massive show of strength on October 9 Mayawati wants to send strong message to BJP, SP and Congress for future politics. Mayawati is very unhappy that her party BSP is being called as B team of BJP. (IPA Service)
