Uttar Pradesh: Why Akhilesh Yadav Unveiled Statue Of BSP Founder Kanshiram

In an unprecedented event, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav unveiled a statue of Dalit icon and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) founder Kanshiram on Monday, 3 April.

The event followed SP’s celebration of Kanshiram’s birthday on 15 March. The unveiling of the statue happened at a function in Raebareli. Not only that, SP has also announced the celebration of Dr B.R. Ambedkar’s birth anniversary on 14 April.

The unveiling of the statue of the BSP founder is being regarded as the launch of SP's 'Mission Kanshiram'. Under this, SP would reach out to voters of the Scheduled Caste and the Extremely Backward Classes community, and try to secure their support.

For this, the party has deputed leaders like Swami Prasad Maurya, Indrajit Saroj, Ramachal Rajbhar, Lalji Verma, among others. All these leaders were in the BSP when Kanshiram was heading the outfit.

According to party general secretary Swami Prasad Maurya: “There is an urgent need for the followers of Kanshiram and Mulayam Yadav to join hands once again for nation building".

The move is being seen as an attempt to revive SP’s political fortunes by attracting non-Jatav Dalit voters away from Mayawati’s BSP. The group was seen as voting for the BJP in the last two polls.

BSP Chief Mayawati hit back at the SP ahead of the event. She said that the SP was trying to manipulate Dalits in the name of Kanshiram.

“But the long history that the party has of being ungrateful to Manyawar Kanshiram ji and its caste-driven hatred and malice towards Dalits and their icons is known to all,” she said.

“Had SP worked on the vision and mission of Kanshiram ji, the two parties would have been ruling the state and the country. But it is the BJP that has benefitted the most out of this attitude of the SP,” she added further.

With the state local body polls set to be held soon, the rivalry between the two parties is set to grow as they fight for the same political space to revive their political fortunes.