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| Edited By: Kanchan Srivastava |Source: DNA |Updated: Oct 04, 2014, 06:00 AM IST
The Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party has fielded candidates on all 288 seats, which no other party could, despite dismal performances in previous polls. In an interview with Kanchan Srivastava, party's state chief Vilas Garud expressed confidence over consolidating Dalit votes this time, especially after collapse of major alliances. Excerpts:
What do you think is the main issue this time?
A: Corruption by Congress-NCP government and also that of BJP and Sena during their respective tenures. People have seen that these alliances collapsed not over ideological differences, but because of lust for power. These four parties oppose each other only to fool people. Backstage, they are together as they have a common agenda of looting the people. If not, then why all UPA's corrupt leaders are roaming free in the NDA government?
BSP always contests all seats in assembly and in Lok Sabha elections despite poor show. How many seats you are hoping to win this time?
A: We took off our Maharashtra journey 13 years back. So far, we have been working towards strengthening the organisation at grass-roots level. Now, it's time to win. BSP polled 13 lakh votes in Maharashtra in 2014 general elections, while MNS could get only 7 lakh. Besides, vote shares of Congress and NCP declined drastically, but BSP got 2.5 lakh more votes than the previous Lok Sabha polls. I am not predicting the number of seats, but we won't be just a spoiler this time. Break-up of alliances would help us to consolidate our vote-base.
The perception is that the Dalits of Maharashtra don't identify Mayawati as their leader which is why BSP has failed to replicate UP's success here?
This is a misconception. Maharashtra Dalits have a lot of respect for Behenji. In all these years, Congress, BJP and their ex-allies had been promoting fake Dalit leaders. Media also projected them. Since their greed has been exposed, BSP would gain. Mayawati is holding seven rallies starting October 7, which would be a game-changer.
