BSP not a party of 'Dalits', but for all under one umbrella, says Bhadauria

After a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader moved the Election Commission (EC) against Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati accusing her of seeking votes in the name of caste and demanded that her party be debarred from contesting elections, party leader Sudhindra Bhadauria on Tuesday said the BSP is an institution where everybody comes under one umbrella.

"We wanted to tell people that we are not a party of Dalits only, but a party where Muslims, OBCs, upper castes, other communities...Everybody is under one umbrella," Bhadauria told ANI.

"BJP, the least said the best. They were the once were using religion for politics, they are the one who gave the slogan of Ram Mandir, they were the one who were saying that there are 'Ram zadas' and some other 'zadas'. And what is their party's leader saying? And what is Sakshi Maharaj their leader saying? He is saying that there is only one religious group whose population is rising? What is general VK Singh Saying? That dalits should be compared with dogs. What is Sadvi Niranjan saying?," he added.

He further asserted that BSP is the only party where everybody gets equal respect, dignity and empowerment.

"And that is why we have given tickets to Muslims, to dalits, to OBCs and to upper caste," he added.

BJP leader Neeraj Saxena had moved the ECI against Mayawati, accusing her of seeking votes in name of caste and religion.

"We have registered a complaint with Election Commission of India (ECI) against BSP chief Mayawati for violation of Supreme Court"s guidelines seeking votes in name of religion," Saxena told ANI, adding that BSP has disrespected the apex court"s order. Saxena, who is BJP's Uttar Pradesh executive member, further demanded that the Election Commission to debar BS from contesting elections for flouting apex court"s directives.

Mayawati, had earlier on January 3, said in a press conference that of the 403 seats, 85 are reserved for the Schedule Castes and 87 tickets have been given to Dalits, 97 to Muslims, 106 to OBCs, 66 to Brahmins, 36 to Kshetriyas and 11 to Kayasthas, Vaishyas and Punjabis. Earlier on January 2, the apex court, while hearing the Hindutva case which deals with electoral malpractices arising out of its 1995 judgment, said that politicians cannot seek vote in the name of caste, creed, or religion.

The Election Commission has, on January 4, announced seven-phase polling for 403 assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh beginning on February 11.