Maya to focus on Purvanchal’s backwardness at Azamgarh rally
LUCKNOW : Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati plans to raise the issue of backwardness of the Purvanchal region in a rally in Azamgarh on Tuesday.
Along with attacking the BJP governments in the state and at the centre, she is likely to challenge the rival Samajwadi Party from the Lok Sabha constituency of former SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.
It will be the party’s first rally in Azamgarh since its defeat in the assembly elections in February-March. Azamgarh was once considered a BSP bastion.
She is likely to make an effort to reach out to Muslims, backwards and Scheduled Castes. A source said she will also raise the issue of separate statehood for Purvanchal consisting of the districts of east UP.
Mayawati’s brother Anand Kumar and nephew Akash Kumar are likely to be present on the dais. Mayawati will introduce the duo to the BSP supporters. She will also make it clear to the people that rather than former national vice- president Raja Ram, who belongs to Azamgarh, Anand and Akash will handle the party affairs in the region.
The BSP has decided to contest the urban local bodies’ election on the party symbol. Mayawati has directed the zonal coordinators to screen the candidates.
With the show of strength in Azamgarh, she plans to send the message that the BSP enjoys the support of the people. She also wishes to thwart the rivals’ plans to make a dent in her vote bank.
Maywati has decided to fight back after a rebellion by senior leaders marred her efforts to keep the party flock together before launching the Lok Sabha election campaign. As the BSP polled 20% votes in the assembly polls, she called upon the party leaders to build a Dalit-Muslim-Backward coalition in the run up to the Lok Sabha election.
Mayawati had resigned from the Rajya Sabha on July 18 for not being allowed to speak on Dalit atrocities.
She plans to highlight her step as a sacrifice for the community in the rally. She wishes to tell her rivals that in spite of electoral reverses, she remains the tallest Dalit leader in the country.
She has not responded to the non-NDA parties’ offer to join the secular front.