Maya banks on ‘Sarvajan’ to repeat 2007

LUCKNOW: Looking to arrest anti-incumbency, the Bahujan Samaj Party on Sunday gave tickets to many new faces, while relying on its tested ‘Sarvajan’ formula. Party supremo and UP CM Mayawati released the list of 403 candidates, and general secretary SC Mishra said nearly 100 MLAs were denied tickets following adverse feedback.
The ‘Sarvajan’ formula of dalit, Brahmin, Muslim and most backward classes, which brought the party to power with a majority in 2007, is being adhered to.In fact, a closer inspection reveals that Muslims have got a bigger share of the Sarvajan pie compared to Brahmins.
The BSP has fielded 88 dalits, three more than the number of reserved seats in UP. As many as 85 tickets have gone to Muslims, 113 to OBC/MBCs, and 117 to upper castes. Among the uppers, Brahmins are 74; Thakurs 33; and Vaishya, Kayasth and Punjabi Khatri consist 10. In 2007, BSP had fielded 86 Brahmins (43 won), 61 Muslims (29 won), 89 dalits (59 won), 120 OBC/MBC (55 won) and 47 others (16 won).
Party sources said more Muslims candidates have been fielded to counter the minority quota ploy of the Congress. “This is the first step towards fulfilling our promise to give representation to Muslims in ticket distribution and important assignments in the government,” said a senior party leader. Among Brahmins, a few sitting MLAs have got tickets, but most of them have been fielded on tough seats. Party has also given ticket to over a dozen members of Kushwaha and affiliated communities to offset Babu Singh Kushwaha’s ouster.
Mayawati said she has denied ticket to corrupt and criminal elements. “Their company spoilt some of the leaders from the cadre,” she said. The rejects included over 20 ministers sacked by Mayawati on charges of corruption.
Among powerful MLAs denied ticket are Sushil Singh, Jitendra Singh, DP Yadav and Awadhpal Singh Yadav. Party claimed that tainted MLAs have been denied in view of anti-corruption sentiments following Anna’s movement. But, a few family members of MLAs facing corruption charges have got tickets. Shikha Mishra, wife of health minister Anant Mishra who was a casualty of NRHM scam, has been put up from Maharajpur, Kanpur. Also, a few ministers sacked on corruption charges have been fielded such as Rajesh Tripathi from Chillupar (in Gorakhpur) and Rangnath Mishra from Mirzapur.
State BSP president Swami Prasad Maurya will contest from Padrauna, Kushinagar; his daughter Sanghpriya from Aliganj, Etah, and her son Utkarsh from Unchahar, Rae Bareli. Energy minister Ramveer Upadhyay is contesting from Sikandaramau in Hathras and his younger brother, Vinod Upadhyay from Dibai in Bulandshahr. Harsh Bajpai, son of Ashok Bajpai, who lost in 2007, is in the fray from Allahabad North. He also is the grandson of late Rajendra Kumari Bajpai, a confidante of Indira Gandhi.