Homing in on voters

In Shivpuri locality that falls under the Varanasi (North) assembly seat,1,500 small flats,built as part of the first phase of the scheme and allotted two years ago,accommodate a total of 5,065 voters. More than 1.42 lakh such houses have been constructed in all the old 72 districts (excluding the three new districts) as part of phase one and two of the scheme. Allocation of houses built in the second phase is also almost complete.

Now,thanks to this flagship scheme,BSP can safely hope to romp home in at least one constituency of all the old 72 districts.

Rahi’s brief was clear: Gifted with oratory skills,he had to fashion the “Kanshiram Awas” into BSP strongholds,cutting into the votebank of other parties. If any stranger (read workers of other parties) initiates any conversation with anyone on the premises,Rahi is informed immediately. He has been allotted house number 10 in block number 106. “This is a question of 5,000 votes and that,too,in an urban area. I am supposed to keep a watchful eye on this premises,” he said.

Like Rahi,the party has placed its hardcore cadres on the premises of “Kanshiram Awas” across the state.

The biggest beneficiaries of the scheme in Shivpur locality are the OBCs among Muslims. “There are a total of 856 Muslim families who have benefited from this scheme,” Rahi said.

According to him,the government has allocated 115 houses to Brahmin families while 165 Dalit families have also benefited.

Other beneficiaries are MBCs like Rajbhars,Kurmis,Mallahs,Koeris and Kumhars. OBCs like Yadavs have also been given houses here.

Given the complex caste composition of the beneficiaries,Rahi is having a tough time keeping them united under the BSP banner till the polling day.

He has formed “Manyawar Kanshiramji Shanti Suraksha Samiti” which he himself heads. Every evening,he organises cadre camps in various blocks; he has been holding health camps besides camps for issuance of ration cards,extension of benefits of pro-people schemes like Mukhya Mantri Mahamaya Arthik Garib Yojana,age-old pension and widow pension for the residents.

The beneficiaries,it seems,have been won over. “Although I got this house with the help of then ward councillor Sitaram Keshari,who is a Congress leader,but I will vote for the BSP as CM Mayawati has given me my own house,” said Shaila Mishra who lives in flat number 7 of Block 20.

Mohammed Yasin Ansari,another beneficiary,said he has not voted for the BSP ever. “But this time I will cast my vote for the BSP candidate.”

BSP has fielded old war horse Sujit Kumar Maurya while Congress candidate is Rabiya Kalam. The SP candidate is Samad Ansari while BJP has fielded Ravindra Jaiswal.