LUCKNOW: Four
BSP MLAs quit and joined the
BJP here on Monday. This takes the number of BSP functionaries defecting to the saffron outfit to 10.
The defection is a big blow to party supremo
Mayawati as one of the rebel MLAs, Om Kumar, is a Jatav, a Dalit sub-caste, which has been the back bone of BSP since its inception in 1984.
Kumar is the first Dalit MLA who has revolted against Mayawati almost two months after the first spark of rebellion hit the party. BSP national general secretary and leader of the opposition in UP Assembly, Swami Prasad Maurya, revolted in June, accusing the BSP boss of selling tickets. Mayawati had faced another setback when a strong Brahmin face and former Rajya Sabha MP, Brajesh Pathak, joined BJP recently.
Four MLAs who joined the BJP are Mahaveer Rana from Behat, Roshan Lal Verma from Tilhar, Kumar from Nahtaur and
Romi Sahani
from Pallia.
Kumar said he was disgusted by the BSP's functioning where a co-ordinator is given all the powers.
While Mayawati prides herself in consolidation of Jatav votes that she claims has always been loyal to BSP, analysts say that revolt by a Jatav legislator could potentially dent her Dalit consolidation agenda by portraying BJP as an anti-Dalit outfit.
Mayawati issued a statement saying "BJP was not finding candidates and was therefore attempting to field BSP discards."
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