The Bahujan Samaj Party has suffered a setback in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. For the first time, the BSP was reduced to just 12 per cent vote share and could win only one seat. Taking a jibe at this, Dalit leader and Republic Party of India Chief Ramdas Athawale has taunted Mayawati. Taking a jibe at Mayawati, the Union Minister said that Mayawati has been advised to take rest. He said that BSP Chief Mayawati should now take rest. Athawale said that the responsibility of fulfilling the ‘Mission’ of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar will now be carried out by the RPI.
On Tuesday, Athawale issued a statement saying that his party would fulfill the dreams of Baba Saheb across the country and emerge as the strongest alternative to the BSP in Uttar Pradesh. The Union Minister welcomed the decision of the Karnataka High Court on the issue of hijab and said that hijab-like dress has no importance in educational institutions and school dress should be promoted in educational institutions. Meanwhile, he also praised the movie ‘The Kashmir Files’. Athawale said that such films serve to make the country and society aware of its history and he too will definitely watch this film when he gets time.
Rajya Sabha MP Ramdas Athawale’s activism has been in Maharashtra so far, but now he has indicated to interfere in UP politics as well. He has often described himself as the successor of Babasaheb Ambedkar’s politics. It is noteworthy that Mayawati had blamed the shifting of Muslim votes to SP and the polarization of Hindu votes in response to the defeat. Not only this, Mayawati had also admitted that apart from her own fraternity, the Jatav community, the vote of other Dalits has also been scattered from the BSP this time.