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Will Mayawati’s magic work?

K.V. Prasad

GWALIOR: Now with a token presence of two MLAs in the outgoing 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly, the Bahujan Samaj Party hopes to make a comeback by recreating the Uttar Pradesh magic of reaching out to all sections ahead of the November 27 elections.

Keen on testing the efficacy of its social engineering outside U.P., the BSP has fielded candidates across the State, distributing ticket to both the upper castes and other caste and communities.

The Gwalior-Chambal region, which runs along Uttar Pradesh, is being seen one of the testing grounds in the Hindi-speaking belt. There, the BSP fielded nine Brahmins and six Thakurs. Among them is veteran Balendu Shukla, who served as Minister in the previous Congress governments.

Congress, BJP flayed

Speakers at Ms. Mayawati’s rally here on Saturday did not hide their disappointment with the ruling BJP and the Congress. Leading the charge was Mr. Shukla and he was supported by U.P. Minister Fateh Bahadur Singh, son of the former Congress Chief Minister, Bir Bahadur Singh.

On her part, the BSP supremo said she had written to the Centre on several occasions suggesting that reservation be provided on economic criteria and promised the gathering that she would implement it when the party came to power in New Delhi.

As Surendra Singh Tomar, candidate in Gwalior, sees it, the BSP is emerging as the most potent force in the region.

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