Mayawati spurns BJP overtures’

LUCKNOW, DECEMBER 30: Following Kalyan Singh's expulsion from the BJP, the party is trying hard to project a pro-Dalit image in Uttar Prad...

LUCKNOW, DECEMBER 30: Following Kalyan Singh’s expulsion from the BJP, the party is trying hard to project a pro-Dalit image in Uttar Pradesh. It also seems to be making overtures to the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). The party has dropped ample hints in this regard by reinstating several officials of the Mayawati regime who were ousted by the Kalyan Singh government.

The BJP is doing everything to woo the Dalit masses to ensure that the formidable segment that was alienated from the party because of the “Kalyan factor” would drift back to it again.

The BJP leadership had earlier tried to implement its Dalit agenda in the state with the appointment of Suraj Bhan as the Governor and he did try to work in the larger interest of the community to which he belongs, but since Kalyan was the CM at that time, his efforts backfired.

Story continues below this ad

But with Kalyan not a member of the Sangh Parivar any more and the party’s senior leadership toying with the idea of striking an alliance with the BSP, the party in power in the state is trying to project a pro-Dalit image. Such indications from the Gupta government came when it replaced the state police chief, Kanahiya Lal Gupta, with a Dalit officer, Sri Ram Arun, who had held the same post during Mayawati’s regime.

The government also assured that the work on the Ambedkar Park would start again. The Gupta government has also rehabilitated a number of officers believed to be close to the BSP, who had been discarded by Kalyan Singh during his tenure. “These are indications that the party is willing to strike a deal with the BSP and it is now for their leaders to weigh the pros and cons,” said a senior party functionary.