http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mayawati-starts-her-caste-politics-again/111770-37.html?from=tn?from=rssfeed
Mayawati starts her caste politics, again Bhupendra Chaubey CNN-IBN ON A NEW PATH: Uttar Pradesh CM has decided to sack over a 100 Brahmin lawyers. New Delhi: After the controversy over garlands made of currency notes Mayawati has returned to her core Dalit votebank. In the line of fire are nearly 150 government lawyers and the Brahmin face of the Bahujan Samaj Party - Satish Chandra Mishra. The 25th foundation day rally of the BSP was meant to be the biggest show of strength from Mayawati, but it will now be remembered for her oldest flaws - her love for Dalits and disdain for the upper castes. First Vijay Shankar Pandey was booted out of the Chief Minister's office along with his brother Ajay Shankar Pandey. Now the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister has decided to sack over a 100 Brahmin lawyers, most of whom are considered to be close to Mishra, who is one time confidante and the upper caste face of Mayawati. All the changes are being affected in a week when the media has gone to town with Mayawat's notes garland controversy, which has not gone down well with many Congress leaders. So what has changed? A poor performance in the Lok Sabaha elections along with a below par performance in the recent Assembly by-elections, coupled with the Congress breathing down the BSP's neck has got Mayawati worried. Rahul Gandhi is slated to visit Muslim-dominated Azamgarh along with Dalit colonies next month in the state. So she seems to be making moves only to endear herself to her core Dalit voters, whether it is by sacking upper caste officers or by appeasing Dalits more. Within the CM's secretariat with the arrival of Netram the Dalit balance has been worked out well. Mishra, Mayawati's one time upper caste face, has now been relegated as being head of the legal cell. Overall out of nine police ranges in UP, seven are headed by Dalit police officers. Many see this as an act of desperation from Mayawati to hold on to her Dalit votes, which is not the ideal proposition for a modern state.
