http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=221610
D in Doaba stands for Dalits Anju Agnihotri Chaba Jalandhar, February 9: The Dalit factor can play an important role in Doaba region, which has about 33 per cent voters from the caste. Bhujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati has also been doing rallies here to strengthen her base as split in the party had made it weak as compared to the 1997 elections. Former BSP leader Pawan Kumar Tinu, who had a following among the Dalits, had left the BSP and joined the Bhujan Kranti Party and former BSP candidate Devi Das Nahar, who fought 2004 Lok Sabha elections on the BSP ticket, too floated a new party, BSP Ambedkar. Bride Groom India USA UK UAE Canada Australia Pakistan Saudi Arabia Kuwait South Africa 18 - 24 25 - 30 31 - 35 36 - 45 46 - 50 50+ Hindu - Assamese - Bengali - Gujarati - Hindi - Kannada - Malayalam - Marathi - Marwari - Oriya - Punjabi - Sindhi - Tamil - Telugu Muslim Christian Sikh Parsi Jain Buddhist Jewish Other No Religion Spiritual Weakening of the BSP may benefit the Congress, which has always remained dependent on the Dalit voters. But the presence of Mayawati in Doaba in the last phase of election campaign could create trouble for the Congress candidates in Phillaur, Nakodar, Jalandhar Cantonment, Adampur, Sham Chaurasi, Mahilpur, Nawanshahr, Garhshankar and Phagwara. If Mayawati's magic casts a spell even on two to three per cent Dalit voters, it may cause a big dent in the vote bank of the Congress. In Kartarpur constituency, where sitting Congress minister Chaudhary Jagjit Singh is facing a tough fight from SAD candidates, may face a difficult time. The Balmiki community, which has 21,012 voters in Kartarpur, accused the minister of getting all benefits under the reserved category for the Ravidasi community. Political observers said in the last two elections, the BSP candidates got 10,000 to over 20,000 votes on various seats, including Jalandhar (South), Phillaur, Adampur and Kartarpur, and if one per cent increase takes place in this vote bank, it would be a loss to the Congress. A veteran politician said the BSP has become quite weak due to divisions, and this may benefit the Congress. But it can still eat into the Congress vote bank on some seats.
