NEW DELHI: The BJP was quick to expel its Uttar Pradesh unit vice-president Dayashankar Singh to contain any Dalit backlash for his offensive remark against BSP supremo Mayawati. But as the current game of caste polarisation is played out, he may return to the party earlier than expected.
Given the curious ways of Indian politics, Singh has apparently gained more among his upper-caste Thakur community for ranting against Mayawati, even though BJP and RSS programmes appeared to have come undone. If it was advantage BSP after offensive remarks against Mayawati, the BJP jumped to beat the Dalit leader at her own game as party leaders hit the streets across Uttar Pradesh on Saturday to protest against remarks made by BSP leaders against Singh’s family.
The BJP decided to turn the tables on BSP by asking it to restrain its leaders from using “foul language”. Information and Broadcasting Minister Venkaiah Naidu tweeted, “Abusing and traumatising wife and minor daughter of Singh is condemnable… BSP leadership should advise its leaders not to indulge in such activities.”
The BJP also threw its weight behind Singh’s lecturer wife Swati, who has been taking on Mayawati’s verbal attack on her and her daughter. Even after getting an FIR lodged against BSP leaders for using “foul language”, she demanded that sections of Pocso be invoked against them for abusing her minor daughter.
The BJP claims to have the maximum number of Dalit MPs. Dalits constitute 20 per cent of the population. According to the BJP, if Dalits and Muslims, who together constitute 35 per cent of voters, it will have to focus on the remaining 65 per cent, which comprises a sizeable number of OBCs and the upper castes (Yadavs 8.5 per cent, Brahmins 10 per cent , Thakurs 8.5 per cent). Yadavs and Muslims had voted for the SP in the last elections, while Brahmins are known to choose the strongest political grouping each time.
Mayawati played the victim card to the hilt. “I did not marry and considered the entire country’s oppressed as my family. I have always followed my mentor Kanshi Ram’s advice to take (donation) from the underprivileged and not industrialists,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Congress is expecting to win back upper castes from the BJP, while getting Muslims on their side, as it was evident from its current choice of leaders in the state. For now, BJP leaders hope that the issue may lose its steam in the days to come.