Former U'khand guv Baby Rani to take on Mayawati in UP?

Meerut: Former Uttarakhand governor Baby Rani Maurya, who resigned from her post in September — two years before completing her five-year term — and was appointed BJP’s national vice president days later, is likely to be pitched against Mayawati in UP to win over Dalit voters.

Maurya, who was felicitated at Meerut’s Chaudhary Charan Singh University on Tuesday, had posters across the city calling her Baby Rani Maurya ‘Jatav’ — a suffix she has not used before.

The Jatavs comprise 11% of Dalit vote bank in Uttar Pradesh which amounts to 21% of total votes in the state. The community has traditionally voted for BSP chief Mayawati. Talking to the media, Maurya said she was adding “Jatav” to her name as it was “important for Dalit community to know that she belongs to them”.

Maurya also compared herself to ‘Gautam Buddha’ and said just like he left his kingdom to work for the poor and downtrodden, she had also quit the post of governor as she wanted to work for the people of her community in UP.

“I am glad that my party agreed to my wish and I was given an opportunity to work for my people. they have had high hopes from may other leaders who termed themselves as ‘Dalit’ leaders but no one was ever seen on ground except during the time of polls. They have faith in me which is why thousands of people from 14 districts have gathered in Meerut today,” she said.

Maurya also praised BR Ambedkar and said that if he had not written the constitution, Ramnath Kovind would not have been the President and she would have never become the governor. “We would not have got these posts if the constitution was not made,” she added.

“Maurya is a prominent Dalit face. We have many Dalit workers on the ground and she is one of them. UP BJP is organising a series of felicitation events for her, especially in Dalit dominated constituencies, across the state. One such event was held at CCSU today and she will soon be visiting all 14 districts that fall in west UP, from Rampur to Saharanpur, early next month,” said Hansraj Pappu, regional president of BJP’s SC Morcha.