Former BSP leader looks to create Dalit-OBC front

Senior Pasi leader and former BSP minister R.K Chaudhary, after having quit the Bahujan Samaj Party, will now test his strength at a rally in the ruins of the fort of medieval Dalit icon Maharaja Bijli Pasi on July 26.

One of the founding members of the BSP and a Kanshi Ram loyalist, Mr. Chaudhary recently parted ways with the BSP, slamming its chief Mayawati for running the party like her “private real estate company” and eroding its movement for social change.

Mr. Chaudhary, who was the BSP’s tallest Pasi face, will hold a meeting with workers and allies on July 11. Talking to The Hindu on Monday, he said he was looking to forge an “alternative” to the BSP, perhaps with an unconventional combination of Pasis and Kurmis at its crux.

While Pasis are the second largest Dalit caste in U.P., Kurmis are a politically-active key non-Yadav OBC group not loyal to any particular party. Both lack charismatic leadership in the State and are being intensely wooed by the BJP. Mr. Chaudhary said he would reach out to leaders across these castes. Asked if he would possibly approach or align with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish, who is a Kurmi, the Dalit leader did not commit himself.

“Hundreds of leaders and workers in the BSP have wished to leave and in time could do so. I am in touch with some. Earlier just the leaders were unhappy, now even the worker is dejected. The motive of my rally is to assess our strength and attract support to start an alternative to the BSP on the values of Phule, Ambedkar, Sahuji Maharaj, etc.,” Mr. Chaudhary said.

The exit, in quick succession, of Mr. Swami Prasad Maurya and Mr. Chaudhary from the BSP has led observers to question whether old loyalists of Kanshi Ram had any space in Ms. Mayawati’s scheme of things. The list of senior Kanshi Ram-era leaders who have quit the BSP includes Daddu Prasad, Yugal Kishore, Rajbahadur, Masud Azhar and Dinnath Bhaskar. While Yugal Kishore is with the BJP, Daddu Prasad is exploring an alternative front with Mr. Maurya, who is scheduled to hold a rally at the massive Ramabai grounds here on September 22. Mr. Maurya’s proximity to and alleged tacit understanding with the BJP has also fuelled speculation, provoking Ms. Mayawati to allege that the party was trying to “break its rival parties” through money power and lure of tickets.

At the ruins of the fort of Bijli Pasi, Mr. Chaudhary said he would try to gather 20,000 people, though it has space for much less. Bijli Pasi was a medieval (12th century) Pasi ruler of Awadh and is known for constructing many forts. Not only is he a matter of legend for Pasis, he is also a “symbol of caste glory for all Dalits proving that some of them were also kings,” writes JNU scholar Professor Badri Narayan.