http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=233690
Dalits-only no more, BSP's higher caste units woo 'Sarva Samaj' in city Asit Srivastava Lucknow, April 27: THE Bahujan Samaj Party has formed several caste-based organisations in the state capital to woo 'general' voters and steer off its Dalit-oriented image in the ongoing Assembly elections. In Lucknow, these caste-based organisations are soliciting support from Kayasthas, Brahmins, Guptas, Vaishyas and Agarwals — not part of the party's 'vote bank' till recently. These outfits are seeking votes under the banner of different bhaichara (brotherhood) banao samitis. It's a "very clear" concept, said Savita Singh, president of the Kayastha Bhaichara Banao Samiti. "The BSP wants to emphasise that it has risen from Bahujan Samaj to the Sarva Samaj. The party is making an all-out effort to shed its Dalit-centric image in these elections." These caste-based organisations have got clear-cut roles: garner support from respective community members. "Our main responsibility is to tell members of our community about changes in Behenji's (Mayawati's) policies," Brahmin Bhaichara Banao Samiti president R L Shukla said. "The party high command has directed us to project the BSP's new face. We have to tell voters from the general caste that the party now wants to take up issues concerning everyone, and that it is no longer confined to giving facelift to only the Dalit community." Members of these outfits are conducting door-to-door campaigns and holding discussions with community members in their respective areas. "Our discussions primarily revolve around civic and other problems," Shukla said. "Once we realise the problems (of a particular locality) we invite suggestions from our own community to solve the issues. "These suggestions, along with the problems, are later forwarded to the party representative of that particular constituency." He said the exercise brings locals and the representative closer. Besides garnering support for the party, activists of these community outfits said the move would open avenues for higher political participation from the general caste populace. A Gupta, convenor of Gupta Bhaichara Banao Samiti, said various sections of the general castes have till date stayed away from politics. "But the BSP's move will give them an opportunity to claim their share in politics." -- Subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a BLANK email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
