A man released on bail has now been arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act… Accused of raping a Dalit minor in Mathura
A man released on bail in Mathura has been accused of raping a Dalit minor. Police have registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) and the SC/ST Act and arrested him. In Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh, a man released on bail has been arrested for raping a Dalit minor. According to the agency, an official statement stated that the accused, identified as Jai Kishan (25), a resident of Mora village, was apprehended by local police near the Bati Maghera crossing on September 5. Police sources stated that on September 3, the minor girl was working in the fields when Jai Kishan took her to a nearby secluded area and raped her. They stated that Kishan threatened the girl with dire consequences if she told anyone about the incident and fled. A case has been registered under several sections… Sources said that based on the complaint, a case has been registered against Kishan under sections 65(1) (rape) and 351(3) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, as well as several sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The accused has been involved in several crimes before… According to police sources, the accused has a prior criminal record and was released from jail on bail about a year ago after serving a three-year sentence. They said that in 2022, Jai Kishan was involved in a fight with a man from his village, during which he allegedly gouged out the victim’s eyes with his fingers. Police said that after his arrest on September 5, the accused was produced in court. Further legal action is underway in the case. Edited by: Mohammad Saqib Majeed Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit sanitation worker tries to end life over alleged two-tumbler system
Madurai: A 37-year-old dalit sanitation worker of Kambur panchayat near Melur attempted suicide on Sunday, days after alleging that she was forced to use separate disposable cups at work and made to carry the panchayat secretary’s footwear by hand because of her caste. Sasikala, a resident of Kambur, had been working as a sanitation worker in the village for the past eight years. She had earlier petitioned Madurai district collector Nishant Krishna seeking action over the alleged caste discrimination and threats. Police sources said Sasikala was found vomiting outside her house around 11am on Sunday. A neighbour who noticed her condition rushed her to Melur Government Hospital, where doctors found that she had consumed pesticide. She was admitted for treatment and remains under critical care. Her husband T Prakash alleged that panchayat secretary Roopa, who belongs to the Kallar community, had subjected dalit sanitation workers to discriminatory treatment. “Dalit workers were not allowed to use the common metal tumblers for tea. They were asked to use separate disposable cups,” Prakash told TOI. He alleged that the practice continued despite workers objecting to it. He also accused the secretary of assigning work based on caste and making derogatory remarks. “On some occasions, my wife was made to carry Roopa’s slippers in her hand because she belongs to the dalit community,” he said. Prakash further alleged that Sasikala faced pressure after raising complaints over the functioning of the panchayat. “Associates of Roopa are frequently giving us death threats and asking my wife to withdraw the police complaint,” he said. In her representation to the collector, Sasikala said complaints had earlier been submitted to local authorities and police. She alleged that she and another worker who supported her were subsequently threatened and targeted. She sought an inquiry into the allegations and action against the panchayat secretary. A senior police officer said Kottampatti police registered a case on Friday, Sept 4, under Sections 296(b) and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, dealing with obscene acts and criminal intimidation, respectively, along with relevant provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Melur DSP Sivakumar has taken up the investigation. (Assistance for those having suicidal thoughts is available on TN’s health helpline 104 and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050) Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Akhilesh wears blue scarf instead of red:SP student wing members to switch to blue T-shirts and jeans; party targeting Dalits or Gen Z?
From Parliament in Delhi to election rallies in Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav has often been seen wearing a red scarf and red cap. Along with the kurta-pyjama, these have become something of a dress code for Samajwadi Party leaders, giving office-bearers a distinct identity much like the party flag and symbol. But at a meeting of district presidents held in Lucknow on August 31, 2026, Akhilesh was seen wearing a blue scarf around his neck. Six days later, a message reached workers of the Samajwadi Party’s student wing, Samajwadi Chhatrasabha, telling them they would now wear blue T-shirts and jeans. Until now, they had worn maroon shirts and white trousers. The SP organisation has also sent blue T-shirts to student leaders, bearing the Samajwadi Chhatrasabha logo. This is the wing that remains active among students in universities and colleges across Uttar Pradesh. Is the SP using these changes to woo Dalit voters or Gen Z ahead of the elections? Read the report… Understand the change in the SP’s dress code August 31- District presidents’ meeting A meeting of district presidents and metropolitan presidents from all 75 districts was held at the Samajwadi Party office in Lucknow. The agenda was election preparations. Everyone wore red scarves around their necks. When Akhilesh Yadav arrived on stage, Shivpal was with him. Neither was wearing the usual red scarf. Both were wearing blue scarves instead. It was an unspoken message to party office-bearers. However, when Akhilesh was asked about the blue scarf, he replied in a measured tone, “The weaver brothers made it for us. So that we look a little different.” He then laughed. September 6- Message reaches Chhatrasabha workers Samajwadi Chhatrasabha is the SP’s student wing. It too has a dress code, with members wearing maroon shirts and white trousers. This was changed on September 6. Student workers have now been sent blue T-shirts and jeans. The T-shirts feature the Chhatrasabha logo and a bicycle. However, the SP’s official launch of the new dress code is scheduled for September 8. What is Akhilesh trying to achieve with the colour blue? Akhilesh Yadav has been seen wearing blue scarves before, particularly on occasions such as BR Ambedkar’s birth anniversary or at rallies in Dalit-dominated areas. According to political analysts, the SP is pursuing two major objectives through the change: Dalit vote bank – Dalits account for 21.1% of Uttar Pradesh’s voters. Wearing a blue scarf is an attempt to send the message that the SP is now a direct claimant to the politics of Dalit rights. As the BSP’s political base in UP continues to weaken, the SP wants to take over that space completely. In political history, blue has long been a symbol of Ambedkarite ideology and Bahujan politics. Through this, the SP wants to give its PDA (backward classes, Dalits and minorities) slogan a visual identity, rather than leaving it confined to speeches. Gen Z and young voters – Samajwadi Chhatrasabha has units in 80 universities and more than 8,000 colleges across UP. Until now, its members were seen in maroon shirts and white trousers. The party believes blue jeans and T-shirts will make it easier to connect with students on university and college campuses. Message to Dalits through blue, will it help? Until 2022, a large section of Dalits, particularly non-Jatavs, along with non-Yadav OBC voters, remained a strong support base for the BJP. The trend changed in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The ‘Constitution is in danger’ narrative and Akhilesh Yadav’s PDA strategy led to a rapid shift of the BSP’s traditional Dalit vote, along with non-Jatav Dalit and OBC voters who had moved away from the BJP, towards the SP-Congress alliance. As a result, the BJP was reduced to 33 seats in UP, while the SP emerged as the largest party with 37 seats. Akhilesh is once again trying to build the same narrative just before the elections, in an effort to secure Dalit voters’ support in the Assembly polls. Blue is considered a symbol of equality and equal rights. It can also be seen as a symbol of the thinking of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia and Dr BR Ambedkar. This is a student organisation, so changes are being made to increase youth participation. We are not limited to UP; we are also doing good work in Delhi and Madhya Pradesh. This new dress code will apply to the entire Chhatrasabha organisation across the country. Since the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BSP’s influence has become more deeply embedded in the SP. This was the period when the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party entered into an alliance for the Lok Sabha elections.The alliance broke up after the elections. After that, several prominent BSP leaders left the party and joined the SP. These included major Dalit faces such as Inderjit Saroj, RK Chaudhary and Tribhuvan Dutt. The SP then also began observing the birth and death anniversaries of Dalit icons, including Dr BR Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram.Before long, the backdrop at the Samajwadi Party office changed. Pictures of various Samajwadi leaders replaced the bicycle that had been on the backdrop. Along with green and red, blue was also added. Since then, Akhilesh Yadav has increasingly been seen wearing blue scarves on different occasions. Every colour has its own meaning. All Bahujan people identify with the colour blue. As for the dress code, changes happen in everything from time to time, and this is also being changed. It may be premature to link it to vote-bank politics. Our party works in line with what today’s youth and students think. Syed Yasir Raza | Lucknow Courtesy : Bhaskar English Note: This news is originally published on https:/bhaskarenglish.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
SP to field Dalit candidates on general seats as well! Efforts to strengthen PDA, Gen-G candidates to get opportunities
In view of the PDA’s success in the 2024 assembly elections, the Samajwadi Party is preparing to field Dalit candidates on general seats as well. Anand Tripathi, Lucknow: In view of the PDA’s success in the 2024 assembly elections, the Samajwadi Party is preparing to field Dalit candidates on general seats in addition to reserved seats. The party has indicated it will field Dalit candidates on approximately 14-15 general assembly seats in addition to the reserved seats. The party has instructed potential candidates to prepare for these seats. If this plan is implemented, the total number of Dalit and tribal candidates for the SP could reach around 100. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the SP also fielded Dalit candidates on two general Lok Sabha seats. Avdhesh Prasad won the Faizabad seat. In Meerut, the SP candidate lost in a close contest. Which seats are in focus? The SP may field Dalit candidates on general seats such as Sarojininagar in Lucknow, Unchahar in Rae Bareli, Chauri Chaura in Gorakhpur, Agra North, Meerut Sadar, and Hardoi Sadar. Furthermore, there are several assembly seats in Purvanchal where the party is preparing to field Dalit candidates on general seats. Of the 403 seats in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, 84 are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and two for Scheduled Tribes (STs). The party is particularly focusing on areas where Dalit voters constitute 20 to 25% and are in a position to influence election results. Who will get the opportunity? The party is preparing to field Dalit candidates on general seats, which will include junior-level candidates. Young leaders associated with the Samajwadi Party Chhatra Sabha and Lohia Vahini may also be considered. Part of Strengthening the PDA Formula According to senior SP leaders, this strategy is part of further strengthening the party’s PDA (Backward, Dalit, and Minority) formula. The party believes that the PDA’s social mobilization paid off in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, and preparations are underway to further expand this model in the assembly elections. The Dalit vote has long been the BSP’s mainstay in politics, but the BSP’s performance has consistently weakened in the last few elections. Consequently, the SP believes that a large segment of the Dalit community is looking for new political options. This is why the party is organizing PDA conferences across the state, with the Ambedkar Vahini actively participating. Edited by: Pawan Nautiyal About the Author Pawan Nautiyal works as a consultant writer for the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand sections of Navbharat Times. He has over 14 years of extensive journalistic experience in print, electronic, and digital media. Originally from Uttarakhand (Uttarkashi), Pawan has a deep understanding of the politics, socio-economic issues, crime and utility news of both the states. Courtesy: Hindi News
Revanth praises Goud on marking two years as TPCC chief
Hyderabad: Chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Sunday praised the work of Congress leader Mahesh Kumar Goud in strengthening the party on the occasion of Goud being appointed as the TPCC president two years ago. In a post on X, Revanth said the appointment of Goud also fulfilled the social justice formula of the Congress party: “From an ordinary worker to the party’s state charioteer, on the occasion of completing two years as PCC president, heartfelt congratulations to MLC Mahesh Kumar Goud. Entrusting the reins of Telangana Congress to a BC son is not merely about assigning a position, but a testament to the Congress party’s commitment to social justice. From the day he took on that responsibility, under the leadership of AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge @kharge, and the guidance of Rahul Gandhi @RahulGandhi, the journey of Mahesh Kumar Goud garu in strengthening the party, standing as a support for the workers, is commendable. With the same dedication, wishing to reach even more milestones in public service, heartfelt congratulations to Mahesh Kumar Goud.” Mahesh Goud’s two years in office was marked by organisational strengthening, social justice initiatives and efforts to improve coordination between the govt and the party. The Congress also drew confidence from electoral victories, including the Jubilee Hills by-election, Nizamabad municipal elections and local body polls in the Reddy-BC leadership combination i.e. CM Revanth Reddy and TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud. These victories provided a boost to the party cadre and strengthened the leadership’s efforts to consolidate the organisation. During his tenure, Mahesh Kumar Goud implemented a special action plan aimed at strengthening the Congress from the grassroots level. Particular emphasis was placed on energising party workers from villages and mandals to district-level units and ensuring better coordination between the govt and the party. One of the major organisational initiatives during his tenure was the large-scale training camp for DCC presidents from the erstwhile Telugu states at Vikarabad under the ‘Sanghatan Srujan Abhiyan’. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and AICC general secretary KC Venugopal attended the programme. Rahul Gandhi’s appreciation of Mahesh Kumar Goud’s performance during the event was viewed as an important recognition of his organisational efforts. Another key focus was taking the govt’s welfare and development programmes to the people while ensuring that problems emerging at the grassroots were conveyed to the party leadership. Face-to-face interactions with ministers and padyatras were used to strengthen the party’s connection with the public and its cadre. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
MPSC aspirants to protest in Pune on Monday; support pours in from CJP, Rahul Gandhi, Aaditya Thackeray
Pune: A day before a protest march announced by Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) aspirants against alleged irregularities in the recruitment process, demanding either resignation or removal of the commission’s chairperson, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) as well as opposition leaders like LOP Rahul Gandhi of Congress and MLA Aaditya Thackeray of Shiv Sena (UBT) extended their support to the agitation. In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi said thousands of students across Maharashtra were protesting peacefully, with their concerns extending beyond a particular examination or recruitment process to a broader loss of faith in the system. “Whether at Centre or in the state, every student is fed up with BJP govt. Paper leaks, stalled recruitments, unaffordable education, inhumane hostel conditions, poisonous food and fraud in DBT. And now, by taking control of a constitutional body like MPSC, it has destroyed the institution’s credibility,” he said. The Congress leader said that every demand from students for their successful future is justified. He said govt must listen to their voice and act immediately, else this echo of students will only grow louder until justice is served. The scheduled protest of MPSC students that will start from Omkareshwar Temple and culminate at the Pune district collector’s office also received backing from CJP chief Abhijit Dipke, who announced that CJP supports the demands. Some office-bearers of CJP also met agitating students to declare that they too will take part in the march. Thackeray, who was in Pune on Sunday to participate in the protest march by Hinjewadi residents and IT professionals for better infrastructure, also met MPSC aspirants later in the day and announced his party’s support for them. “We stand with MPSC students. The local Shiv Sena (UBT) and Yuva Sena will participate in Monday’s march,” he said. NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar met MPSC aspirants on Saturday and addressed a press-conference alongside them to announce the proposed protest march. Pawar has also been raising concerns over the FDA inspector recruitment examination, which came under scrutiny following allegations of a question paper leak. Police have arrested several people in connection with the case and the exam was cancelled in Aug after leak was confirmed. The developments come after state govt formed a committee on Sept 4 to review the existing recruitment examination system and recommend measures to make it more transparent and reliable. Meanwhile, BJP MLA Vikram Pachpute, who met MPSC aspirants in Pune on Sunday, said efforts were being made to resolve the issue through dialogue and to persuade the protesting students. He said the agitation should not be exploited for political gains. On the demand for the removal of MPSC chairperson Vivek Bhimanwar, Pachpute said the commission is an autonomous body and its chairperson is appointed by the governor. “Govt does not even have the authority to demand his resignation,” he said. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
After meeting Bihar youth, Rahul slams PM Modi, Samrat Choudhary
NEW DELHI: Congress functionary Rahul Gandhi Sunday lashed out at PM Narendra Modi and Bihar chief minister Samrat Choudhary over the police action against protesting students in the state, asking while their broken bones would be fixed, if their shattered dreams could be restored. Gandhi shared a video of his recent meeting with students and youngsters from Bihar who, he said, endured “horrific police brutality” for raising their voices against alleged irregularities in the examination system. In his post accompanying the video, Rahul said, “Imagine, what sin had these children committed that they were shot with bullets? They had only asked the govt for three things – education, employment, and accountability.” Patna witnessed a pitched battle between job aspirants and police last month as demonstrators tried to march to the CM’s residence demanding a single-tier teacher job exam and a transparent recruitment process. He also drew attention to students issues in Maharashtra saying, “Thousands of students are on the streets, protesting peacefully -the reason isn’t just one exam or recruitment, but a trust that’s been shattered by the entire system.” Gandhi stressed that govt must listen to their voice and act immediately – otherwise, this ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ will only grow louder until justice is served. His remarks came after Maharashtra constituted a high-level panel to undertake a comprehensive review of the existing recruitment examination system in the state and suggest measures to make it more transparent, secure, reliable and candidate-friendly. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Shedding old AHINDA allies, Congress leader Siddaramaiah plans to revive ‘HINDA’ with new team
During his recent visit to Siddaramaiah’s Varuna Assembly constituency in Mysuru district, Dr Parameshwara had reportedly suggested that Dalits should groom Yathindra as a future leader. BENGALURU: Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwara appear set to revive the Congress’ HINDA (Kannada acronym for Backward Classes and Dalits) plank to consolidate its Backward Classes and Dalit support base ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections. A Backward Classes Federation rally to felicitate Siddaramaiah at Bengaluru’s Palace Grounds on Sunday is expected to showcase the emerging social coalition, with Dr Parameshwara likely to take centre stage at the event. The rally may pose a subtle political threat to CM DK Shivakumar who is likely to project himself as the Congress’ CM face in 2028. Siddaramaiah had successfully championed the AHINDA (Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalits) plank, which played a key role in his becoming CM twice. However, in the changed political scenario, with some of his erstwhile associates, including Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi and Housing Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, seen distancing themselves from him, Siddaramaiah is now expected to focus on rebuilding the HINDA coalition with a new set of leaders, political analysts opine. Siddaramaiah’s son and Urban Development Minister Dr Yathindra could also be projected as his ideological successor at the rally, particularly as sections of the Kuruba community have been keen to see him emerge as a future leader, sources said. During his recent visit to Siddaramaiah’s Varuna Assembly constituency in Mysuru district, Dr Parameshwara had reportedly suggested that Dalits should groom Yathindra as a future leader. The move is being seen as a reciprocal gesture towards Siddaramaiah, who had backed Dr Parameshwara for the CM’s post and later played a role in him getting the DCM position. Siddaramaiah had recently said he lobbied with the Congress high command to restrict the government to a single Deputy CM so that Dr Parameshwara could get the post. Dr Parameshwara, in turn, promptly acknowledged Siddaramaiah’s role. Against this backdrop, Dr Parameshwara is likely to be projected as the prominent Dalit face of the Siddaramaiah camp and potentially as one of the contenders for the CM race ahead of the 2028 polls, analysts said. The guest list for Sunday’s event has also attracted attention. Several prominent leaders associated with Siddaramaiah’s earlier AHINDA campaign, including Satish Jarkiholi, Zameer Ahmed Khan and former minister Dr HC Mahadevappa, have not been invited. In contrast, KPCC president BK Hariprasad and ministers Santhosh Lad, Puttaranga Shetty, Madhu Bangarappa, Byrathi Suresh and Ajay Singh, besides former minister KN Rajanna, have been invited. However, KM Ramachandrappa, president of the Karnataka Rajya Hindulida Jaatigala Okkuta, said there was no political motive behind the guest list. “As the event is being organised to mark the silver jubilee of the Okkuta, only Backward Classes leaders have been invited. We have invited Dr Parameshwara as a representative of the government and will submit certain demands, including implementation of the Backward Classes survey report,” he told The New Sunday Express. Chairman of the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission Madhusudhan R Nayak and former commission chairpersons Prof Ravivarma Kumar, H Kantharaju and Jayaprakash Hegde have also been invited to the event. Devaraj B Hirehalli Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit youth beaten for protesting the theft of a submersible pump: Caste-related abuses and death threats, FIR filed
A Dalit youth was beaten and subjected to caste-related abuse in Suriyawan, Bhadohi, for protesting the theft of a submersible pump. Following court orders, police have registered a case against the accused, Ajay Shukla, and three unidentified individuals. The victim, Jawahar Lal Gautam, a resident of Mauramshala, stated that on the night of June 12th, he had attended a wedding. During the incident, the submersible pump was stolen from his hand pump. On June 16th, he learned that Ajay Shukla, a resident of Mauramshala (Khanapur), had stolen the submersible pump along with three or four unidentified individuals. The victim alleges that on the evening of June 18th, when he went to the house of the accused, Ajay Shukla, to ask for his submersible pump, Ajay hurled caste-related abuses at him, kicked and punched him, and threatened to shoot him if he returned home. After the incident, the victim filed a complaint with the Bhadohi Superintendent of Police after failing to receive a hearing at the local level. Police have subsequently registered a case under sections 303(2) (theft), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 352 (insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 351(3) (criminal intimidation) of the IPC and sections of the SC/ST Act and have begun an investigation. Shyam Shukla | Masudhi (Bhadohi), Bhadohi (Sant Ravidas Nagar) Courtesy: Hindi News
Mayawati Fires Nephew Akash Anand Again Despite Dalit Bahujan Leadership Vacuum
BSP sources claim Mayawati was upset Akash Anand had departed so drastically from her own measured, tame speeches. Mayawati’s repeated sidelining of Akash Anand, reliance on Satish Mishra and outreach to Brahmin, Thakur and Jat leaders reveal deep churn in the BSP and Dalit politics in UP ahead of 2027. Ajoy Bose asks: Can this confused strategy revive her party or speed up its decline? The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati publicly humiliating her nephew and political heir Akash Anand for the third successive year is a new low even for her erratic eccentricity. Coming as it does just a few months before the crucial Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, it is the latest blow to a party desperately struggling to survive in what was considered a decade ago as her political bastion. Anand, 30, had been inducted nearly three years ago by Behenji as her successor, ostensibly to rejuvenate the rapidly declining BSP, abandoned by a growing number of young Dalits in recent years. But she herself has shattered his credibility by forcing him on a bizarre rollercoaster ride, propelling him up and down in rapid succession. The young BSP leader’s fluctuating fortunes have seen him being anointed as her political successor in December 2023, abruptly sacked from his post in the middle of the 2024 Parliamentary poll campaign for harshly criticising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as “terrorist” and “Taliban”, his power reinstated soon after the elections, thrown out again a year later for anti-party activities along with his father-in-law and veteran BSP leader Ashok Sidharth, reinstalled after an abject apology but now once again stripped of his post for being “politically immature”. A Jibe at BJP Costs Anand His Job Insiders in the BSP revealed that the latest blunder by Anand that cost him his job, was a rousing speech at Jewar in Greater Noida late August that savagely indicted both the BJP state and Central government. Flagging off the 2027 election campaign, announcing the name of the local BSP candidate, the young Dalit leader, much like his aunt in her early activist days, used both rhetorical flourish and sarcastic wit to expose the many unfulfilled promises by the ruling party. Although he also criticised the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, the bulk of the speech was a frontal assault on the BJP which was repeatedly cheered by the sizeable crowd. Sources close to the BSP indicated that Mayawati was upset that nephew and successor had departed so drastically from her own measured and tame speeches. She is also believed to have been influenced by her chief adviser, confidante and lawyer Satish Mishra, who is known to be close to the BJP, that it was unwise for such a senior party leader to upset the state administration at such a sensitive period before the elections. Significantly, Satish Mishra already hugely influential has become even more powerful in recent weeks after the recent expulsion of the other important BSP Brahmin leader Anant Kumar Mishra for anti-party activities. Mayawati last month announced that the lawyer-turned-politician would be assigned more responsibilities in view of the coming elections and would be responsible for dealing with the Election Commission as well as his other responsibilities in managing legal and media matters. A veteran Dalit activist who was earlier close to the BSP supremo lamented, “Behenji has grown increasingly dependent on her lawyer’s advice and nobody else in the party really matters”. There is also talk of a revival of the Dalit-Brahmin alliance supposedly forged by Satish Mishra that swept the BSP to an incredible victory nearly two decades ago. Yet, there appears to be no sign of any surge of fresh support for Mayawati among Brahmins who abandoned her long ago as has other caste groups across the board, along with Muslims ,who now feel that under Satish Mishra’s influence the BSP has become a B-team for the BJP. Interestingly, while Akash Anand was missing from both the party meetings held by Mayawati to discuss Uttar Pradesh and national affairs, the new face that was prominent in the front rows was Prince Yukesh Singh, the son of the late BSP leader Uma Shankar Singh, a Thakur businessman from Ballia in eastern Uttar Pradesh. The recently deceased leader, a wealthy construction magnate who faced corruption charges that were later withdrawn with the help of the Uttar Pradesh government, had won three successive Assembly elections from Rasra constituency. BSP insiders said that Prince Yukesh, who has inherited his father’s business, was being groomed to take over his political mantle. There is also some consternation among Mayawati’s dwindling Dalit supporters about her surprising pursuit for electoral support from communities like Brahmin, Thakurs, and Jats who have traditionally been hostile to them. They were surprised at Mayawati’s open support to Jat leader Jayant Chaudhary in the latter’s recent verbal battle with Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav. Indeed, considering the long battle between Dalits and Jats in western Uttar Pradesh, it is baffling how the most important Dalit leader has come out in defence of “the dignity of the Jat community”. This confused strategy by Mayawati not prioritising her goals of getting back her core Jatav base along with other Dalits before thinking of a grander all-caste alliance may cost her in the coming elections. Although the alternative Dalit leader Chandrasekhar Azad does not have either the professional cadre or Mayawati’s vast financial resources, he does have considerable personal charisma and a motivated volunteer force. While this may not be enough to win Azad’s party many seats, unless he comes to a deal or at least an understanding with the INDIA bloc, he is likely to draw away even more of the BSP base which dropped in the last Parliamentary polls to just nine percent. Mayawati could have arrested further decline and even improved her miserable performance in the last Assembly election of just a single seat, had she allowed Akash Anand to at least put up a serious fight as an Opposition party to