The Hindu : BSP will now concentrate on Maharashtra: Kanshi Ram

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 15, 2003

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BSP will now concentrate on Maharashtra: Kanshi Ram

By K.V. Prasad

LUCKNOW APRIL 14. The Bahujan Samaj Party chief, Kanshi Ram, today indicated that his outfit would concentrate in Maharashtra, which has a sizeable number of Dalits, while urging these sections to consolidate themselves ahead of the Assembly elections next year.

With his protégé, Mayawati, firmly in the saddle as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, the BSP chief underscored the importance of organising the "bahujan samaj" as a potent force to take over the political reins in the State.

Addressing a "Mahapardafash" (exposure) rally organised by his party on the occasion of B.R. Ambedkar's birth anniversary here, Mr. Kanshi Ram unveiled his vision for the party in Maharashtra. He said the BSP had over the years gradually grown to acquire national party status. But the Samajwadi Party, according to him, even after two decades, was restricted to Uttar Pradesh and remained a regional party.

At present, the Dalits may be facing problems in getting their representatives elected. But if the party supporters organised themselves, there was the possibility of even seeing their own Chief Minister in Maharashtra, he added.

In an apparent reference to the various factions of the Republican Party representing these sections, the BSP leader said time had come for the Dalits to close ranks and empower themselves politically. Political power was a tool to bring about a transformation in the lives of the oppressed classes, he said and cited the example of Ms. Mayawati who had become the Chief Minister for the third time.

Interestingly, Mr. Kanshi Ram's statement comes at a time when there are reports that an idea has been mooted that the different factions of the Republican Party join hands.

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