Paswan on VP radar with Dalit-Muslim call

Singh, who has been endorsing Mulayam-baiter Raj Babbar, is likely to bring Paswan and Babbar together first, then rope in all anti-Mulayam forces on one platform. Singh and Babbar are already working on a show of strength in Lucknow on May 30. ‘‘He (VP Singh) is the rallying point for all like-minded people and Paswan is also likely to participate in the Lucknow rally,’’ Babbar said.

Singh has already revived the defunct Jan Morcha and may even think of an alliance with the Congress before the elections, sources said. RLD leader Ajit Singh is also on Singh’s radar. Mulayam had visited Singh last month and pleaded neutrality in UP, but that the former PM has not relented is clear from his decision to join Paswan’s rally.

Paswan today tried to invoke his role in implementing the Mandal job reservation, by demanding quotas in education and in the private sector. ‘‘Reservation in private sector has to come. Those who say reservation hampers merit must say capitation fees should be abolished,’’ Paswan said at the rally, under the banner of Dalit Alpsankhyak Adhikar Yatra. The Lok Janashakti Party chief has already declared a series of meetings under the same banner in UP in the coming months, beginning with the Ghaziabad rally tomorrow.

As of now, though, Paswan is tightlipped about alliances. ‘‘The Lok Janashakti Party will contest all 403 seats in UP. If Dalits and Muslims join hands, they can change the political scene of Uttar Pradesh. They share the same social and economic conditions and their needs are also the same,’’ he said.

Paswan’s formulation of a Dalit-Muslim social alliance, experimented in the 2005 Bihar elections, did not quite click. He won only 10 seats out of 243, but Paswan says it is ‘‘no joke to have gained 15 per cent votes, alone’’. His individual impact in UP is yet to be tested and for the Dalit leader, Mayawati is a bigger enemy than Mulayam.

varghese.k.george@expressindia.com