http://www.zeenews.com/states/2009-02-27/511310news.html
Key to power rests on support of Brahmins, Dalits: BSP leader Bahraich (UP), Feb 27: Asserting that the key to power rested on the support of Brahmins and Dalits, BSP general secretary Satish Chandra Misra on Friday claimed votes of both would together help party president Mayawati become the prime minister after the coming elections. "The support of 15 percent Brahmins and 23 percent Dalits helped the BSP form a government of its own in Uttar Pradesh and now the coming together of these two would help Mayawati become prime minister of the country," Misra said while addressing a 'Brahmin Bhaichara Sammelan' here. Elaborating on the importance given to Brahmins by the BSP, Misra said that before the last assembly elections there were only 15 Brahmin MLAs of which five were from the BSP. But now with the coming together of Brahmins and Dalits there are 43 Brahmin BSP MLAs in the present Vidhan Sabha, Misra said, adding that because of the backing of the two communities, BSP also won 68 reserved seats in the state. Claiming that both the BJP and Congress were opportunists who exploited the vote of dalits for political gains, he alleged that there was a tacit understanding between the BJP and Samajwadi Party and Kalyan Singh's proximity to the latter was an example. The BSP leader had to leave in a huff later when the dismissed 'safaikarmis' (sanitation workers) showed banners demanding their reinstatement on court orders and were made quiet by BSP volunteers. Bureau Report
