BJP looks to Ambedkar for garnering votes

Varanasi, May 2 (UNI) After cruising to victory in last two assembly polls in the name of Lord Ram, the BJP has taken recourse to Dalit icon Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar to score a hat-trick from Kolasala assembly seat here, which goes to polls tomorrow in the sixth phase of UP elections.

Sitting BJP MLA and former UP minister Ajay Rai, not finding enough support in the upper caste voters of the largely rural constituency this time, has taken recourse to the inspiring persona of Dr Ambedkar to win over the dalit votes from BSP's Avdhesh Singh.

Mr Rai, on a single day of April 14 attended functions in 'harijan bastis' of at least 60 villges including Kathiraon, Dabathuan, Nimaich, Kuwar, Sindhaura and Malhat tomark the birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar, to win over the dalit voters from BSP.

''I won the election on April 14 itself, when the elders at all 60 functions ushered me with their blessings which till now has been largely with BSP,'' Mr Rai told UNI, while conducting door-to-door canvassing this afternoon.

''My attendance at the Ambedkar Jayanti functions was not aimed to garner votes but solely to tell the BSP that Dr Ambedkar was an inspiration to all of us and not only to those who derive political gains from his name,'' he added.

The opponents of the muscleman politician, however, alleged that Mr Rai also distributed idols of Dr Ambedkar in dalit colonies of some villages, including Sindhaura, Fattepur and Kathiraon.

The BJP MLA's supporters, however, deniel the allegations saying no Ambedkar idols were distributed.

''On the contrary, Mr Rai assured the dalits about contribution to install the Ambedkar statues in some villages after the model code of conduct ends in the state,'' Santosh Mishra, a BJP supporter in Kathiraon village, said.

''The main contest is between the BJP and BSP this time, but the BSP candidate Dr Avdhesh Singh has spread false rumours about Mr Rai to break his stranglehold among the upper caste Brahmin and Bhumihar voters, who represent nearly 30 per cent of total 3.10 lakh voters,'' Mr Mishra added.

Besides, Mr Rai and Mr Singh -- both belonging to the Bhumihar caste -- Apna Dal president Sone Lal Patel from the Kurmi community is also in the fray. Interestingly, the BJP is contesting the assembly polls in alliance with the Apna Dal and JD(U).

While, the BJP leaders of the district confided that AD-BJP contest in Kolasala is a friendly contest aimed at neutralising the 24 per cent anti-BJP kurmi vote, Mr Rai is considering the fight as real.

Mr Rai who performed the giant killing act by defeating eight time CPI(M) MLA Udal by 438 votes in 1996, and BSP's Avdhesh Singh in 2002 by over 15,000 votes. Mr Patel stood third in the contest which was marred by widespread violence claiming the life of a BJP supporter.

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