New Delhi,7th Aug: In a significant indicator of major change in the Dalit politics of Uttar Pradesh, as many as 17 outfits of Dalits, Muslims and OBCs, led mostly by former leaders of the Bahujan Samaj Party, held a daylong meeting in Delhi on Sunday to chalk out an agenda to “oust Mayawati” and dent her core “Bahujan” vote. These outfits, brought on a single platform by Mayawati’s former lieutenant Naseemuddin Siddiqui, formed a National Bahujan Alliance, and a Coordination Committee with former BSP MP Pramod Kureel as convener.

Kureel says he is “still in the BSP but wants to oust Mayawati (as its leader)”.
Mayawati, who resigned from Rajya Sabha last month saying she was not being allowed to speak on atrocities against Dalits, had expelled Siddiqui from the BSP in May after the party suffered a crushing defeat in the UP Assembly elections. There has been speculation about Siddiqui’s next step ever since. Sources close to Siddiqui, as well as some BSP MLAs, told an English Daily that the BJP has been in touch with them, even though they continued to have reservations about joining the saffron camp. And yet, the timing and venue of Sunday’s meeting, Delhi’s Constitution Club when Parliament is in session, suggested a quickening pace of developments in Dalit politics.
“Sixteen political and non-political outfits from several states gathered Yesterday. The Committee will soon hold another meeting and we will form a joint front of Sarv Samaj and contest elections,” Siddiqui said.