Mayawati’s word of caution to Dalits against SP – ‘can go to any extent to get your votes’

This comes at a time when Samajwadi Party and chief Akhilesh Yadav’s continued Dalit outreach seemingly poses a threat to BSP’s biggest vote bank – Dalits. Over the last few years, the SP has been exhorting the Dalits to join the SP’s PDA – or the Pichare, Dalit, Alpasankhyak (backwards, Dalit and minorities) — caste equation.

“The SP can go to any extent to get Dalit votes. Therefore, along with Dalits, other backward classes and Muslims should not fall prey to any of their aggressive instigations,” said BSP chief and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati Thursday morning. “The SP, too, is creating an environment of tension and violence by putting forward people of the party, especially Dalits and its controversial statements, allegations and counter allegations and programmes… it seems to be their politics of extreme narrow selfishness”.

To the two Dalit leaders, Mayawati said: “Instead of commenting on the history of others, it would be better if the opportunistic Dalits associated with such parties talk about the goodness and struggles of the saints, gurus and great men of their own society, due to which these people have become worth of something.”

As part of their Dalit outreach, the SP has been holding week-long events to mark Ambedkar Jayanti on April 14. Mayawati’s remarks after several Dalit leaders – Lalji Verma, Ram Achal Rajbhar, Indrajit Saroj and most recently, former Uttar Pradesh minister and BSP founder Daddu Prasad – have shifted their loyalties from BSP to SP in the last few years.