Mayawati grand rally tomorrow to kick off party’s 2014 campaign

After losing power earlier this year, BSP chief Mayawati will set the momentum for the party's 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign by holding the Rashtriya Mahasankalp rally to be held in Lucknow on Tuesday coinciding with party founder Kanshiram's sixth death anniversary.

The rally, which will be held at Ramabai Ambedkar maidan, is likely to draw more than 10 lakh strong crowd, according to the BSP leaders making the arrangement for the event. They were asked by the party leadership to ensure that the rally is no less grand than those held when the party was in power.

BSP state president Ram Achal Rajbhar said the rally will be bigger than one held in March 2010. He said the party's state unit had completed the preparations for the stay of people coming to rally and all the facilities from setting up medical camps to mosquito fogging have been installed without any help from the government.

While the work at Ramabai Ambedkar maidan is in full swing, the huge ground of Smriti Upvan has been converted into a temporary lodge for the people coming to attend the rally. By Sunday evening, the tents were erected and people had started to arrive. Temporary toilets and bathrooms have been also set up.

"As many as 16 special trains have been booked for ferrying people to Lucknow from all over the state. Local leaders in the districts have been asked to come in buses and other vehicles. People from outside that state are the first to arrive in Lucknow," said the Rajbhar.

A senior BSP leader said the issue of SC/ST quota in promotions is likely to feature prominently in Mayawati's address and she is expected to target Samajwadi Party for opposing the bill and also the Congress for delaying its passage in Parliament. The SC/ST quota in promotions for government jobs is being seen as an issue by the BSP leaders for firming up the party's Dalit base.

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