To counter Maya, SP woos brahmins
13 May 2013 1:43 AM GMT
With 2014 general elections in sight, the battle for wooing the 12 per cent Brahmin vote bank has already begun in Uttar Pradesh and leading the charge are the two parties known for Dalit and backward caste politics. BSP and SP are now taking potshots at each other to seek support of Brahmins.
In a clear move to target the Brahmins, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday promised that all false cases against Brahmins lodged under the SC/ST Act (Prevention of Atrocities Act) during the regime of Mayawati, will be withdrawn. ‘We all know Brahmins were subjected to harassment and injustice in the BSP regime,’ said Yadav.
Defending lesser number of poll tickets given to Brahmins compared to BSP for the Lok Sabha elections, Akhilesh said that in his party some Brahmin leaders may not have gotten election tickets, but the party always respected the Brahmins.
Though SP is now making attempts to bring the Brahmin vote bank towards itself, BSP has already renewed its attempt to target the Brahmins, which brought them to power in 2007 but deserted them in the 2012 assembly elections. Yadav’s rally is seen as reply to BSP chief Mayawati’s rally on 18 April.
While addressing a Brahmin Bhaichara Samiti meeting, she had attacked the SP for atrocities committed under the present government. ‘The powers that be in the present regime belong to Etawah and it is evident that atrocities are being committed on the people belonging to upper castes there,’ said Mayawati.
Professor Badri Narayan of GB Pant Institute is of the opinion that both parties realise that a consolidated vote bank can ensure victory.
In a clear move to target the Brahmins, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday promised that all false cases against Brahmins lodged under the SC/ST Act (Prevention of Atrocities Act) during the regime of Mayawati, will be withdrawn. ‘We all know Brahmins were subjected to harassment and injustice in the BSP regime,’ said Yadav.
Defending lesser number of poll tickets given to Brahmins compared to BSP for the Lok Sabha elections, Akhilesh said that in his party some Brahmin leaders may not have gotten election tickets, but the party always respected the Brahmins.
Though SP is now making attempts to bring the Brahmin vote bank towards itself, BSP has already renewed its attempt to target the Brahmins, which brought them to power in 2007 but deserted them in the 2012 assembly elections. Yadav’s rally is seen as reply to BSP chief Mayawati’s rally on 18 April.
While addressing a Brahmin Bhaichara Samiti meeting, she had attacked the SP for atrocities committed under the present government. ‘The powers that be in the present regime belong to Etawah and it is evident that atrocities are being committed on the people belonging to upper castes there,’ said Mayawati.
Professor Badri Narayan of GB Pant Institute is of the opinion that both parties realise that a consolidated vote bank can ensure victory.
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