Cong-BSP set for a political showdown

While the Congress is tightlipped about the route of the yatras,the BSP has also not divulged the details of its programme,but it is expected to be in the form of protests against the Centre’s various policies. The Congress plans to touch every Assembly constituency through its yatras. Similarly,the BSP will try and reach every corner of the state.

“In the first phase,the BSP will concentrate in convincing the people that Congress is anti-Dalit and had chosen Ambedkar’s birth anniversary for its programme primarily to mislead the Dalits,” said a BSP leader.

According to BSP source,there is a possibility that Chief Minister Mayawati will visit Ambedkarnagar on April 14 to address a rally soon after AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi flags off the yatras.

In the second phase,the BSP has planned to hold public meetings in Assembly constituencies from May 22 onwards. On every Wednesday after May 22,the BSP will select one Assembly constituency to hold public meetings in all 18 divisions of the state.

The BSP leaders of the division will gather at the selected Assembly constituency and highlight the state government’s achievements.

According to the plan,four dharnas will be held in four Assembly constituencies of each division in one month. That means the party will hold dharnas in at least 72 Assembly constituencies in a month.

A party source said it will take more than five months to reach all the Assembly constituencies. Like BSP,the Congress,too,has worked out its strategy to touch every Assembly constituency through its yatras. “In the first phase,Congress’s one yatra team will hold at least five meetings,including one main meeting per day at Assembly level,” said a source in Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee. “The party is planning to launch 10 yatras. The first phase of the yatra will begin from January 16 and end on May 31,” added the source. The party is also planning to start its second phase from October 2.

Sources in the UPCC confirmed that prominent Congress faces like Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal,Rural Development Minister C P Joshi and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit have been requested to attend the meetings during the party’s yatra programme in the state.

State party chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi confirmed that there is a plan to invite the party’s senior leaders.

According to sources,the senior BSP leaders recently held a meeting with the party functionaries of Ambedkarnagar and asked them to give special focus on the party’s dharna programme on April 14.

“The idea is to create enough pressure on the Congress by ensuring participation of a record number of BSP cadres in Ambedkarnagar on the occasion of Ambedkar’s birth anniversary. So,the BSP has tasked its best cadres to camp in Ambedkarnagar and prompt the supporters to participate in the demonstration programme,” the source added.