UP polls: BSP will hold events to woo brahmins

Displaying clear signs of pre-poll nervousness, the Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh is now wooing brahmins once again.

The BSP will be launching a series of brahmin sammelans from Sunday from Kaushambhi.

Most brahmins, however, find it awkward that the BSP is launching its campaign during “Pitra Paksh”, the period considered inauspicious for new beginnings by Hindus.

“For Hindus, and brahmins in particular, these thing hold considerable importance and the fact that the BSP is launching its sammelans during this period indicates its disdain for Hindu culture,” said Shrikant Misra, a retired Army personnel.

BSP MP Satish Chandra Misra will be addressing these sammelans in 62 reserved constituencies that also have a sizeable brahmin population.

Another BSP leader Ramvir Upadhyaya has been entrusted the task of addressing the brahmin sammelans in western UP. The BSP, it may be recalled, had been earlier working on the dalit-Muslim combination for the upcoming Assembly elections.

The exit of a number of brahmin leaders from the party, including former MP Brijesh Pathak, and the Dayashankar episode had turned the BSP into an anathema for upper castes. However, the lukewarm response from the Muslim community has made the BSP return to wooing brahmins in the state.

According to party sources, a large section of Muslims feel that the BSP is “unreliable.”

“Muslims are unwilling to back the BSP because it has formed three governments with the BJP. The community is undecided and is adopting a wait and watch policy. We do not want to ‘waste’ our vote in the Samajwadi Party — more so, after the recent events within the party — and may go to the party if the party gives strong candidates,” said Samar Khan, a medical practitioner.

Though a number of brahmin leaders have deserted the BSP in recent months, the party feels that wooing the community is the only option left for it.

“We will tell the brahmins how the BSP gave them important positions in its government and the ministry and also in the party. Brahmins are upset with the BJP which is focusing only on OBCs and can return to the BSP,” said a party functionary.

All these sammelans will be addressed by Satish Chandra Misra and Ramvir Upadhyaya, but BSP chief Mayawati will not address the events. The party wants to project its brahmin faces and allow them to convince the community to support the BSP in the upcoming Assembly elections.

It is noteworthy that the BSP is left with only two brahmin leaders — Satish Chandra Misra and Ramvir Upadhyaya — while most others have left for greener pastures.