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BSP to make polls a triangular affair

Sarabjit Pandher

CHANDIGARH: By giving preference to "forging a social alliance" over the prevalent practice of political coalition, the Bahujan Samaj Party is aiming at enforcing triangular contests during the forthcoming elections to the Punjab Assembly on February 13. The party is hopeful of holding the "magic key" to the balance of power.

Releasing the party's manifesto, its general secretary Narender Kashyap and State unit president Avtar Singh Karimpuri informed reporters that as part of the social alliance the BSP was fielding candidates in all the 117 Assembly constituencies and for Amritsar's Lok Sabha seat where a by-election is being held. Mr. Kashyap explained that the candidates include 49 from the Scheduled Castes, 23 from Backward Classes, 41from general categories, three Christians and one Adivasi. Among them are four women candidates.

Mr. Kashyap said it was a beginning made by the party to implement the vision of its founder Kanshi Ram to bring 85 per cent of the society, which constituted the Bahujan Samaj, on one political platform and ensure their participation in the decision-making process.

To ensure the success of the "social alliance", which he was confident would emerge as the most viable alternative to the traditional bipolar contest between the Akali-BJP combine and the Congress, Mr. Kashyap disclosed that the party chief, Mayawati, would begin her campaign next week. She is scheduled to address at least 20 major public meetings.

The manifesto hinges itself on the slogan of "muft padai - muft dawai" (free education and free medication) for all and promises to provide atta (wheat flour), rice, dal and edible salt completely free of cost to the poor. It commits itself to putting an end to unemployment and corruption as well as controlling prices.

The BSP also promised to distribute vacant government land among the poor from the Dalit and other sections as well as provide them free irrigation facilities to enable them to take up farming as a profession. The party would provide dwelling units to the Below Poverty Line families completely free of cost.

Mr. Kashyap said the party would impress upon the Central Government to amend the process of announcing the Minimum Support Price for grains by linking it with the demands made by the farmers. It would also seek to revive the Upper House in the State to broaden the scope of democracy.

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