Phoolan Devi Manch to unite MBC vote

The Eklavya Sena formed by former bandit queen-turned-politician Phoolan Devi has converted itself to form the “Phoolan Devi Jan Jagran Manch” in Uttar Pradesh.

The manch will unite members of most backward castes (MBC) and will support the party that offers maximum number of tickets to MBC candidates.

“This is not a political outfit but we are politically aware and will support any party that gives maximum tickets to MBCs,” said Pappu Nishad, who heads the manch.

The Phoolan Devi Jan Jagran Manch had recently organised seminars in Lucknow where its workers resolved to take out state-wide rath yatra in May and reach out to five lakh MBC households before elections.

“Our aim is to mobilise people belonging to communities like Nishad, Kevat, Kashyap and Mallah — all MBCs — and attempt to unite them in order to prevent their exploitation by political parties like the SP, BSP, BJP and the Congress. Phoolan Devi belonged to Mallah community which is also known as the boatmen’s community,” he said.

Mr Pappu Nishad alleged that the Akhilesh government in Uttar Pradesh had failed to give proper representation to Kevat, Nishad, Mallah and Kashyap and none of these castes have found a place in the state Cabinet.

The manch is also upset with the Samajwadi Party not getting a CBI inquiry ordered into the murder of Phoolan Devi who was shot at her Delhi residence in 2001.

He also accused the BSP and other political parties of exploiting voters of the backward castes in election after election.

“We will now strengthen our organisation to such an extent that all political parties will be forced to show respect to our castes and offer us tickets,” he said. The manch, he said, had already set up units in Lucknow, Hamirpur, Lalitpur, Jhansi, Fatehpur, Unnao, Jalaun, Hathras, Agra, Bareilly, Gorakhpur, Deoria, Rampur, Aligarh and Shahjahanpur— all districts having a sizeable community vote.

The members include lawyers, journalists and people from other sections of the society who belong to the Nishad community.