Two former BSP ministers have quietly launched a campaign to turn the tide against the Bahujan Samaj Party in the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.
Two former BSP ministers have quietly launched a campaign to turn the tide against the Bahujan Samaj Party in the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.
The two former ministers — Babu Singh Kushwaha and Daddu Prasad — have been working round-the-clock to turn OBCs and dalits against the BSP but refuse to issue any statement in this regard.
Former minister Babu Singh Kushwaha, who was released on bail last month after spending four years in Dasna jail for the NRHM scam, has activated his Jan Adhikar Manch and will be flagging off a yatra from Jhansi on March 11. The yatris will tour Bundelkhand region and seek to consolidate the Kushwaha, Maurya communities against the BSP.
Mr Kushwaha enjoys immense support among the Kushwaha and Maurya communities and his long stint in jail has only earned him greater sympathy from his community. Despite the taint, he is being wooed by major political parties but the former minister has kept his cards close to his chest.
Vasudev Maurya, state president of the Jan Adhikar Manch, said the purpose of the yatra is to unite dalits and OBCs so that they can capture power in the assembly elections and emerge as a force to reckonwith.
He indicated that they would also expose the BSP, which has enjoyed the support of dalits for years but has not allowed them to share power.
Interestingly, Mr Kushwaha, since he was expelled from BSP in November 2011, has not uttered a word against BSP president Mayawati and sources claim that the BSP is now sending out feelers to him for a comeback .
“Several political parties are sending us feelers but Mr Kushwaha has put all proposals on hold and wants to interact with the people before taking any decision”, said Vasudev Maurya.
Another former minister Daddu Prasad, who now heads the Bahujan Mukti Party (BMP), is trying to claim the legacy of late Kanshi Ram and plans to celebrate his birth anniversary on March 15 in every district.
“We will tell the people how Ms Mayawati has betrayed the ideology of late Kanshi Ram and also how the party is being held captive by a coterie of leaders whose purpose is to make money. The BMP will be fielding candidates in the Assembly elections and will make efforts to unite the OBCs and dalits”, he said.
Though the two former ministers deny working in tandem, sources claim that they have been in touch since their battles have a common enemy in Ms Mayawati.
