JOIN USBSP to make BJP neta's remarks a poll issue
In an apparent bid to regain lost grounds in its Dalit vote bank and thwart the BJP’s efforts to wean the community away from it, BSP plans to make the saffron party leader Daya Shankar Singh’s “objectionable” remarks on its supremo Mayawati a “big” issue in the forthcoming assembly polls in UP which are due early next year.
According to the BSP sources here, the party would hold demonstrations across the state on Thursday to register its protest against the remarks and press its demand for arrest and prosecution of Singh, who has been relieved of the post of vice-president of the state unit following the controversy.
Sources in the BSP said that Mayawati had directed the senior state leaders to take part in the protest. The prospective assembly poll nominees would also be taking part in the demonstrations.
BSP leaders said that the remarks by the BJP leader had completely ''exposed'' the saffron party, which has been trying to woo the Dalits. BJP national president Amit Shah had recently visited a Dalit home in Bhadohi district in the state and had lunch with the family members there.
''The remarks on bahen (sister) Mayawati have offended the Dalits...they are incensed and they will come out on to the streets in large numbers to express it,” said a senior state BSP leader while speaking to Deccan Herald here on Wednesday.
Political analysts also aid that the BSP, which had drawn a blank in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, would do everything possible to gain political mileage out of the remarks.
“There is no doubt that BJP has given an issue to the BSP, which has been demoralised after the Parliamentary elections,” said J P Shukla, a political analyst.
Shukla told Deccan Herald here that the controversy might “help” the BSP to “rally” its supporters in the state. He, however, expressed doubts f it would be an issue in the next assembly polls in the state.