Aiming for a rainbow coalition, BJP does not miss a chance to hold MSY, Kanshi Ram in high stead
Lucknow: Lok Sabha elections are going to be held in the country next year, in view of which political parties have started their preparations.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is eyeing 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. In the 2019 elections, BJP had hoisted saffron on 72 seats here. BJP is trying every trick to repeat or better its performance in 2024 as well.
This is the reason why in UP it has started tilting towards the Bahujans. First Samajwadi Party National Coordinator Mulayam Singh Yadav was given Padma Vibhushan. Now the saffron party has remembered Kanshi Ram on his birth anniversary. Both these exercises have political implications of their own.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath tweeted and remembered Kanshi Ram and paid his tribute. He wrote, “On his birth anniversary, a humble tribute to the popular politician Kanshi Ram, who fought for the overall upliftment of the Dalits, the deprived and the exploited.”
Before him, UP BJP President Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary also paid his tribute. He wrote, “Hundreds of salutes to Honorable Kanshi Ram ji, a skilled politician, influential voice of Dalits, deprived and exploited, on his birth anniversary.”
Kanshi Ram and BJP have their own political history. BJP helped BSP thrice to form government in UP. Kanshi Ram died in 2006, but he continues to have a place in the BSP’s ideology.
This is the reason why Mayawati has demanded to give Bharat Ratna to Kanshi Ram several times.
It is bound to make BSP not happy with this new political move of BJP. Mayawati’s party has termed it as double standard of BJP. He said that there is a difference between the words and actions of the BJP.
BSP state president Vishwanath Pal said, ‘BJP’s ideology is opposite to the ideals of Kanshi Ram. BJP must adopt the ideology of Kanshi Ram. He said that Dalits understand the trickery of BJP, they will not leave the side of Mayawati and BSP.
At the same time, BJP spokesperson Hero Bajpai said, “There is nothing wrong in remembering Kanshi Ram.” He has done a lot of work for the upliftment of the poor and downtrodden. Our party works on the mantra of ‘Sabka Saath and Sabka Vikas’.”
This political move of BJP is being seen as an attempt to increase its reach among Dalits. Earlier, after the victory in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP under the leadership of Narendra Modi has got the support of a large section of Dalits.
On this latest political development, political observer Professor Ravikant sees this as another political signal to unite the Dalits.
He also said that, “BJP is also adopting the approach of RSS leader Bhaurao Deoras, who had said that irrespective of political affiliation, veteran leaders of all parties should be respected and remembered.” BJP has been continuously remembering Bhimrao Ambedkar since 2014. He had said, “All political stalwarts should be remembered and respected irrespective of their party affiliation. The BJP has been invoking Dalit icon BR Ambedkar since 2014.
