The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) seemed to be latching on the issue of hill versus plain in the electoral battle of Haridwar lok Sabha constituency. With BJP deciding to field former chief minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank and Congress in all probability deciding to put its stake on someone from Chief Minister Harish Rawat’s family, the BSP has started raking the contentious issue.
The candidate of BSP from Haridwar, Hazi Mohammed Islam told The Pioneer that both BJP and Congress have made Haridwar a shelter home for the leaders who are outsiders.
He said that the people of Haridwar have realised the designs of these parties and would give a fitting reply to them in the ensuing general elections. Islam said that Harish Rawat as an MP has failed the people of Haridwar as he rarely visited his constituency after being elected.
Raking up the issue of hill vs plains, Islam blamed Rawat for working for the benefit of the people of mountainous areas only. He said that the recent deserting of BSP MlAs Surendra Rakesh and Haridas would have no impact on the poll prospects of the BSP as the followers of the party vote for symbol of elephant and have full faith in the leadership of Mayawati.
The issue of hill vs plain assumes significance in the ensuing general elections in Haridwar. A CD allegedly showing a top BJP leader of Haridwar asking people to vote for the candidate of plains has brought the issue on top burner. BSP has good pockets of influence in Haridwar as it bagged three assembly seats in the assembly elections of 2012. The party is banking its hopes on about 4.70 lakh Muslim and 3.75 dalit voters here.