Mayawati is unnerved by the manner in which BJP-RSS-VHP and others members of the Sangh Parivar are working hard to win over Harijan votes who play an important role all over the country especially UP where the their presence is more than 20 per cent of total votes.

It would be worth mentioning here that a large number of Dalits had voted for BJP candidates in UP in 2014 Lok Sabha polls to make Modi the PM. During Lok Sabha, Dalits voters had said that they would vote for the BSP in assembly polls but would change their priority for formation of the central government.

Now the BJP and the PM are working overtime to retain the same Dalit voters in party fold.PM Modi and other important leaders are now attending to the grievances of Dalits all over the country. They are giving due respect to Bhimrao Ambedkar and members of the Sangh Parivar too have been asked to share meal with Dalits to win them over.

Much significance is being attached to visit of PM Modi to Sri Ambedkar Mahasabha office in Lucknow during his recent visit to the UP capital city.

As a follow-up action, Mayawati has launched concerted attacks on the BJP and the Congress and termed them “anti-dalit” parties and blamed them for all injustice done to Dalits since Independence.

Mayawati alleged that BJP and Congress joined hands to conspire against Dalits to make plans to end the reservation. She said that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had openly said that the policy of reservation should be reviewed.

Taking the advantage of Hyderabad suicide episode Mayawati openly blamed Modi government and the BJP for creating circumstances in which Dalit student Rohith Vemula committed suicide.

Mayawati also blamed the Akhilesh Yadav government for being anti-dalit and blamed the government for sharp increase in incidents of atrocities on the lower castes in UP during last three years.

However, there is realisation in the BSP that only Dalit will not help them in coming to back to power; so efforts are being made to woo the upper castes and Muslims, besides the most backward castes.

In order to woo the upper castes, Mayawati is openly talking about reservation for those upper castes who are below poverty line. She has promised to take this issue at the highest level if she is voted to power.

Mayawati has also promised to give a good number of seats to the members of upper castes in assembly posts. She has already made senior lawyer and MP Satish Mishra the Brahmin face of the party who is in touch with important leaders of his caste.

In order to break the strong Muslim support base of arch rivals and the ruling Samajwadi Party, Mayawati is now talking about the rise in communalism in UP and large number of incidents of violence in which Muslim community was at the receiving end and gravely affected. She also blames the Samajwadi Party government for the 2013 Muzaffarnagar communal riots where large numbers of Muslims were killed.

Mayawati also blamed the Modi government for making plans to deprive important educational institutions from their minority character. She promised to take up the cause of AMU and Jamia Millia at the highest level.

BSP supremo has appointed senior party leader Nassimuddin Sidiqui as the Muslim face of the party who is in touch with important leaders of the community. Mayawati is contemplating playing an aggressive Muslim card by giving good number of seats to the minority community.

Terming Samajwadi Party as the party of the Yadav castes, Mayawati openly blames Mulayam Singh Yadav for promoting only family members, followed by Yadav castes at key positions in the state, especially in police force.

Mayawati is also wooing the most backward castes as they feel ignored by Samajwadi Party. Mayawati promised the members of most backwards caste they would also get adequate share in seats and in government if her party is voted to power.

Besides this, Mayawati is also working on makeover of the party as she promised that she would not construct any park or memorial and devote entire funds for people welfare programmes.

So much so she cancelled the ticket of the woman candidate who posted her picture of touching feet of Mayawati on social media. Image-conscious Mayawati is leaving no stone unturned to appear welfare-oriented.

Prominent social scientist Dr Ramesh Dixit says that Mayawati is facing the toughest challenge in UP where her vote share registered sharp decline since the last assembly polls. Dr Dixit said that it would be difficult for Mayawati to retain her Dalit vote bank, which had shifted to the BJP during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. (IPA Service)