The much-hyped maiden rally of Swamy Prasad Maurya, after he joined Bharatiya Janata Party, has lost its sheen at the outset as BJP’s national president Amit Shah has decided to give it a skip.
Maurya had earlier claimed that BJP’s national president would be the chief guest of the rally and said that over 5 lakh workers across Uttar Pradesh will take part in this meet. In this rally Maurya will announce merger of loktantrik Bahujan Manch with the BJP.
Insiders say that Shah has decided to skip this rally after September 16 rally held in lucknow proved a damp squib. That rally was organised by Jugal Kishore, another BSP leader who had joined BJP. Sources said that Kishore had promised that thousands of dalits would take part in that rally but attendance was much below party’s expectation.
“Shah does not take want to take chance now. So, he decided to skip Maurya’s rally and instead would concentrate on party’s national executive meet to be held in Kochi n September 25 and 26,” the source said.
Only BJP face in the rally would be party’s state president Keshav Prasad Maurya. Many sitting BSP legislators can join BJP in presence of Keshav Prasad Maurya, source said.
Swamy Prasad Maurya however said that over 5 lakh dalits are expected to attend maha rally to be held at Ramabai Ambedkar maidan. “This rally will be direct challenge to Mayawati. She calls herself messiah of dalits but her pride will be shattered when she will see the multitude descending on Ramabai maidan,” he said.