After success in UP, BSP tries 'upper caste experiment' in Delhi

New Delhi, May 12 (UNI) Exactly a year after the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) romped home with a majority in the Uttar Pradesh legislative Assembly elections using the Dalit-Upper caste combine, the party is all set to repeat the same experiment in the coming Delhi Assembly polls.

The BSP has taken lead over other political parties in Delhi by announcing a list of 60 candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections. Delhi has 70 Assembly seats.

Interestingly, like Uttar Pradesh -- where the BSP formed government on May 13, 2007 riding on the upper caste-Dalit card -- the party has decided to follow the same strategy here also. The BSP had bagged 206 of 402 seats in UP. Its numbers in the Assembly increased to 215 in one year.

During the course of over a month, the BSP has announced two lists -- the first with 38 candidates, followed by another list of 22 names announced yesterday for the State Assembly elections.

Out of the 60 candidates whose names have been announced so far, 22 belong to upper castes (including nine Brahmins and four Kshtriyas), a summary provided by the BSP indicates.

A total of 13 candidates are Dalits, who have made it to the two lists, while 20 others are from the Backward Classes. Five of the candidates are Muslims.

But only three women figure in both the lists carrying 60 names.

The BSP is already buoyed by the substantial increase in its number of seats in the Municipal elections held last year.

The party is fielding three sitting Municipal Councillors, BSP Delhi unit president Jogram Bhatti said.

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