Swami Prasad Maurya, a long time confidante of BSP supremo Mayawati, was on Sunday sworn in Cabinet Minister in UP. Maurya’s importance could be gauged by the fact that he was brought into the council of Ministers despite his surprise defeat from Dalmau assembly constituency. He is one of the few leaders in the BJP who has Behenji’s mandate to interact with the media.
Maurya, a Dalit, is a part of the second-rung leadership in the BSP along with Satish Chandra Mishra — the Brahmin face of the BSP and a Rajya Sabha member — and Naseemudeen Siddique, an influential Muslim representative who is now a Cabinet minister.
The threesome are also symbolic of the Dalit-Brahmin-Muslim ‘magic combination’ which did wonders for the BSP in the UP poll. Maurya was also BSP Legislative Party leader in one of Mayawati’s earlier dispensations.
Soon after the swearing-in ceremony, Deccan Herald correspondents Deepak K Upreti and Puja Awasthi managed to grab some time with Maurya on the crowded lawns of Raj Bhawan, where he spoke about BSP’s target to rule from New Delhi. Following are excerpts of the interview:

How do you analyse the sweeping victory of the BSP and the Dalit-Brahmin-Muslim social engineering?
Behen Mayawati and Manyawar Kanshi Ramji had always said, “Jiski jitni sankhya zyada uski utni bhagedari” (whichever community is more in number shall get more share in power). This way Behenji has now laid the foundation of a samtamulak samaj (egalitarian society).

Will the experiment in UP be repeated at the national level?
Behenji says that the samtamulak samaj has to spread at the national level and it is happening. The absolute majority, which was anticipated in UP, will now be extended to Delhi. Ye daur dilli tak chalega (This political movement will move till Delhi).

Were you surprised by the results or did you have an inkling of it?
The media had failed to measure the people’s anger against the Mulayam government. The results have completely demolished all poll predictions.

Why do you think Mayawati got such a resounding verdict in her favour?
Behenji, during her tenure, fulfilled all her promises.  Behenji ki kathni aur karni main koi farak nahin hain. Sare vayde nibhaye hain ( During her tenure, Mayawati implemented what she promised to the people). People knew she could put an end to the goonda raj. And people also trusted her to complete the long pending development work in the state.

Would Mayawati’s fourth term be substantially different from her earlier ones?
Ab farak hoga (Now you will see the  difference). Earlier it was a coalition and one had to placate the partners. Now we do not need anybody.

How do you think Mayawati will deal with Mulayam?
Mulayam did illegal things. He spent government money for his own selfish motives. He showed no objectivity or impartiality, only favouritism. Har mamle main len-den hua hain (each bit of work was done on a quid-pro-quo basis with the exchange of money).

The Council of Ministers has representations from each caste and religion. Do you think Mayawati is rewarding those communities that helped her win the poll?
Barabari ki sajhedari ho gayi hain (Power is being shared by all on an equal footing). We had a well-toned government earlier and even now, it would be a fair and clean dispensation.

Mulayam Singh Yadav was present among the guests for the swearing-in function. Do you think he is extending a hand of friendship towards Mayawati?
Ugte suraj ko saab namaskar karte hain (Everyone worships the rising Sun). Vey sahayed prayashchit karne ayen hain (He has, perhaps, come to repent  his sins).

Mayawati is being dogged by the Taj Corridor case. How is the BSP going to handle it?
The issue is under judicial scrutiny, I will not comment.

Lastly, who would you support as Presidential candidate?
Ye niti ka prashn hain, ye  party high command decide karegi (The party high command will decide on this matter).