Advantage Cong in Dalit tug-of-war

‘‘They (the district administration) had forced me to sign on the dotted lines,’’ he said when asked about the reasons for his quick turnabout.

On Sunday, Ram Bhajan announced in front of the media and in the presence of local BSP MLA and State Sports Minister O.P. Singh that he would not accept the Congress’s offer as he had all along been a BSP supporter.

Today, it was Sultanpur District Congress Committee chief Jayaraj Gautam who presented the Dalit and his family members before the media. Ram Bhajan’s brothers, Ram Nath and Gaya Prasad, and his two sons stood by his side as he expressed gratitude to Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka.

‘‘This shows how low Mayawati and her party can stoop for political gains,’’ said Gautam. ‘‘We have already started constructing a house for his family and it should be ready by January end,’’ pitched in Youth Congress chief of Sultanpur district Yogendra Mishra. ‘‘It will be formally gifted to him by Soniaji or Priyankaji at a function,’’ he added.

Building a house for Ram Bhajan had become the main bone of contention between the Congress and BSP ever since Priyanka took up his cause during her Amethi visit in November.

While Priyanka announced that Congressmen would rebuild Ram Bhajan’s house through shramdan, the Mayawati government prevented her from doing so. Dubbing Priyanka’s move as a political gimmick, the Chief Minister quickly organised a rally in Amethi on December 12 and lashed out at Congress leaders, saying they were trying to politicise the issue.

While Congressmen went ahead and bought a piece of land for Ram Bhajan, they were left red-faced on Sunday when Ram Bhajan announced he was joining the BSP. However, with the Dalit back again with them, it’s time for Congressmen to rejoice and BSP leaders to sulk.