President of Rashtriya Sawbhiman Party RK Chaudhury was on Thursday re-joined the Bahujan Samaj Party. He is likely to be the BSP’s Lok Sabha candidate from Mohanlalganj.
Announcing his re-entry, BSP general secretary Nasimuddin Siddique said it would help in further widening the base of the party. Party chief Mayawati had sacked Chaudhury in a very dramatic manner from the party in 2001.
The decision to take back Chaudhury, a prominent Pasi leader, after more than a decade has come immediately after sacking of another Pasi leader and incharge of Rae Bareli Ram Lakhan Pasi.
Chaudhury, a close confidant of BSP founder Kanshiram, had emerged as a leading face of the Pasi community in the party. He hogged the limelight by organizing a series of Pasi sammelans for the party before being shown the doors. Interestingly, Mayawati had announced his sacking at a press conference at her Mall Avenue residence when he was waiting outside to meet her on July 21, 2001.
Thereafter he launched BS-4 to mobilize the Dalit community, especially the Pasis, which is second largest segment in Dalit community after Jatavs. Later Chaudhury floated the Rashtriya Swabhiman Party. But it could not take off well. He lost the 2009 Lok Sabha election from Mohanlalganj.
Refusing to delve into the past, Chaudhury on Thursday said he would now work for the victory of the party in the Lok Sabha elections. Moves are also afoot to take back some more leaders who were removed from the party during the last few years. Former BSP minister Rakesh Dhar Tripathi, who hails from Allahabad and was sacked in 2012, may also be taken back.
{{/usCountry}}Refusing to delve into the past, Chaudhury on Thursday said he would now work for the victory of the party in the Lok Sabha elections. Moves are also afoot to take back some more leaders who were removed from the party during the last few years. Former BSP minister Rakesh Dhar Tripathi, who hails from Allahabad and was sacked in 2012, may also be taken back.
{{/usCountry}}Sources said the party was once again aggressively working on “Sarvjan hitai” (welfare for all) formula and making efforts to take some leaders of the upper castes and the Muslims.
During the last few days, Mayawati has held several strategy sessions with senior party leaders here to chalk out an electoral action plan for the party.
With on-going i n- depth review of the performance of the Lok Sabha candidates during the last few months, the possibility of changes in the list could not be ruled out.
Mayawati has been collecting information from the zonal coordinators about these candidates. The BSP has almost finalized the list of 80 candidates.