Don't Vote your caste, just cast your vote

With the aim to replicating the Bahujan Samaj Party's (BSP) success, many smaller, castebased outfits have decided to field candidates in the upcoming Lok Sabha election to reap rich dividends. Many such organisations that have influence in select pockets are asking their community members to vote for their candidates. Their mantra is simple: Win one to two seats and then strike a bargain with a bigger party for benefits or ministerial berths. .The BSP grew this way only. If smaller caste-based parties are moving in the same direction, there is nothing wrong in it,. said SP Pande, director of Govind Ballabh Institute of Rural and Social Studies. There are organisations of Rajbhars, Kurmis, Nishads, Gadarias and Prajapatis nurturing political ambitions and working to achieve this target. The presence of a number of caste-based parties : like Apna Dal, National Lok Hind Party, Sarvoday Party, BS-4, Vanchit Jamat Party, Parivartan Manch and Adhikar Manch etc . has crowded the UP's poll scene.

By: Biswajeet Banerjee