http://timesofindia
Ahead of Ambedkar jayanti, Cong, BSP jostle for dalit mindspace
TNN, Mar 24, 2010, 01.51am IST
NEW DELHI: Ambedkar united the dalits but his birth anniversary next
month will trigger a clash for community votes in Uttar Pradesh, with
BSP set to join Congress in playing to the dalit gallery.
The garland controversy has alerted chief minister Mayawati to ward
off any dangers it can pose to BSP's strong grip on its core
constituency. The chief minister has asked partymen to observe April
14 at district-level with gusto "in view of other parties trying to
woo dalits".
Sources said Mayawati, defiant in the face of criticism of her
currency garland, struck a strong emotional chord with partymen in a
meeting, invoking mentor Kanshi Ram and his passing away to stress
their importance in her struggle.
Party leaders anticipate escalated political tension in the state as
BSP's celebrations at district level clash with Congress's plans. The
latter is fielding Rahul Gandhi to flag off a `yatra' from Ambedkar
Nagar on Ambedkar jayanti, in a bid to shore up support for the party.
The BSP chief is moving to safeguard the core votebase, chastened as
she is after Lok Sabha polls.
What has surprised partymen is the strong plea made by Mayawati two
days after her currency garland at a Lucknow rally kicked off a storm.
Wearing another similar garland to cock a snook at Congress and SP
criticism, she made an emotive plea to MPs, MLAs and officebearers at
a closed-door meeting.
She told them she had lost the "shield" of Kanshi Ram and they were
her "support" after his passing away. "You are my brothers and
sisters," she said, adding, "You will stand for me in such time."
The plea came with the directive for celebrations on April 14 because
"some other parties are trying to celebrate Ambedkar jayanti because
of dalit votes".
In the process, the race for the key electoral community's attention
is set to turn competitive. While SCs have stuck to BSP all along,
Congress seems to be working on a different plan. The tactic seems to
be to chip away at BSP's core base. Mayawati, if forced to raise her
`bahujan' rhetoric in retaliation, will risk alienating upper castes
to Congress's advantage.
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