Mayawati woos Brahmins,says beware Cong,BJP

In order to hold together her Sarvajan vote bank credited for her victory in the 2007 Assembly polls,Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati

In order to hold together her Sarvajan vote bank credited for her victory in the 2007 Assembly polls,Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Sunday cautioned Brahmins that the Congress and BJP may name Brahmin candidates as chief minister in the coming Assembly elections.

Speaking at the BSP Brahmin Samaj Bhaichara Sammelan,Mayawati said she had learnt that if the Congress formed the next government,it would make Digvijaya Singh its chief minister. If the BJP was victorious,the post would go to Rajnath Singh,she said.

Now,after my announcement,they Congress and BJP may announce Brahmin CM candidates just to get your votes, she told the gathering.

Mayawati promised that the BSP will keep giving proper representation to Brahmins in the coming days,and will also take care of other upper castes.

Denying that she was in her own way strengthening casteism,the chief minister said the BSP wanted to make a samtamulak samaj and the neglect by opposition parties had made the Brahmins connect with the BSP.

Explaining her partys special focus on Dalits,she said if one of a familys three children is weak,a careful head of the house gives special attention to that child.

Party general secretary Satish Chandra Mishra described Mayawati as the only kanoon ki devi goddess of law,who didnt hesitate to act even against own partymen.

Nepotism or reward?

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Making the unique claim that appointment of relatives of partymen to senior positions in the government and the BSP was not nepotism but a reward for their dedication to the BSP ideology,Mayawati gave a break-up,with explanations:

The BSP general secretarys two sisters are members of State Women Commission and State Human Rights Commission they pressed Mishra to join the BSP. Mishras brother is chairman of the State Law Commission only a retired judge could hold that position. Relatives of Mishras two daughters,Ramesh Sharma from Jhansi and Gopal Narayan Mishra from Lucknow,are party members,while another relative,former health minister Antu Mishra,has also been associated with the party for a long time.

Relatives of Energy Minister Ramveer Upadhyaya got tickets as there were no better candidates. Mayawati said Upadhyaya had never asked for these tickets.

Swami Prasad Mauryas daughter and son were fielded for the Assembly elections and PWD Minister Naseemuddins Siddiuis wife was made MLC,while similar decisions were taken regarding relatives of Irrigation Minister Jaiveer Singh,Rajya Sabha MP Akhilesh Das and Jugul Kishore.