BSP promotes another Kushwaha,with eye on Bundelkhand votebank

The Kushwaha community has a sizable presence in almost each of the 19 Assembly constituencies in Bundelkhand. “At least 5,000 Kushwaha voters are there in every constituency,” said a party leader.

Since UPSAIC is involved in many works being carried out under the Centre’s Budelkhand package,the BSP hopes it will provide Brij Mohan a suitable platform for political work.

Brij Mohan,who is a native of Simariya village in Banda,had contested the Lok Sabha election from Madhya Pradesh’s Khajuraho seat in 2004 and lost. “He was deputed by the party for organisational work in Madhya Pradesh. At present,he heads the Kushwaha Bhaichara Committee of Chitrakoot range,” said a source.

On being contacted,Brij Mohan confirmed his appointment as chairman of the UPSAIC. Asked whether he was expected to fill in the political void caused by Babu Singh Kushwaha’s expulsion from the BSP,he refused comment.

In his almost four-year tenure as a minister,Babu Singh Kushwaha had built an extensive personal network in Bundelkhand region by helping people in various ways. In an attempt to control the damage after his expulsion,state BSP president Swami Prasad Maurya had visited Banda and held a meeting of the Kushwaha Bhaichara committee of Chitrakoot and Jhansi regions.

Besides Brij Mohan,the party has also started giving importance to another community leader — Babu Lal Kushwaha,also from Banda district. “Babu Lal Kushwaha was an old-timer in the party since the days of founder Kanshiram. He is all set to get BSP ticket from Baberu seat in Banda,” said a party leader. He had lost the Assembly election from Banda constituency in 2007.