In Maya’s Dalit land,SP looks ‘backward’ for a foothold

Party leaders feel it is the right time to politically target these castes. “Under the current regime,we see a discontentment among them,” said a leader.

“The idea is to create awareness among them about their importance in state politics. If united,they can be good weapon to counter the Dalits.”

Leaders use the Maya’s government’s special focus on Dalits to win over these castes. “We tell them how many people of their castes have got jobs under the Maya rule in comparison with the Dalits,” another leader said.

Confirming the move to woo MBCs,party spokesperson Rajendra Choudhari said separate conferences of these caste groups have been held in the state. “We want them to join mainstream politics. They need social justice,” Choudhari said. The desperation in the SP camp to unite the MBC and OBC groups is evident from its plan to organise “Pichhra Sammelan” in the state. The conference of backward castes was held in Kanpur on April 20,Choudhari said. Moreover,party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav had also attended the conference of Saini castes organised in Saharanpur on April 6.

On April 25,Mulayam has been invited as a chief guest at “Prantiya Pichhra Varga Sammelan” — to be organised by Uttar Pradesh Pichhra Varg Sangh in Ravindralaya in Lucknow.

“The party is not directly involved in this conference. But I have seen hoardings displaying the name of Netaji as chief guest on this occasion,” said Choudhari.

Former minister Om Prakash Singh,the general secretary of the party’s state unit,however,said there is nothing new in party’s efforts to ensure social justice for these castes. “We want to see them to share political power. We have already demanded proper census of these castes at the national level,” Singh said.