After exit of leaders representing Backward and Dalit communities, now the Bahujan Samaj Party `sarvjan sukhai-sarvjan hitai’ campaign received a major blow when former Member of Parliament Brajesh Pathak joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in New Delhi on Monday.
Interestingly, this was the third tremor which caught the BSP supremo Mayawati in `shock’ but like on two previous occasion, she was quick to claim that Pathak was already expelled from the Party. Earlier leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Swami Prasad Maurya deserted Mayawati and later RK Chaudhary quit in similar way, and both the times Mayawati was in dark after their plan but to send a strong signal, her Party leaders immediately came forward to claim they do not need the services of above leaders any more. However, the fresh case is seen as a shocker for Mayawati as Pathak was an organiser of BSP supremo’s rally in Agra held on Sunday and was seen as a major leader for BSP social engineering agenda.
Pathak a strongman and a second big Brahmin face of BSP was also seen sharing the dais with Mayawati at Agra rally. His exit is now looked upon as a major stumbling block for the BSP’s bid to secure Brahmin votes along with its traditional vote bank of Dalits and Muslims in the Assembly elections, due next year. The erstwhile manuwadi-hating BSP supremo Mayawati is also making all efforts to woo Brahmin votes. And, a combination of the three communities is seen as a major political equation that Mayawati had mastered and executed successfully in previous elections.
Pathak was among the leading faces who had garnered Brahmin suppport for the BSP, traditionally seen as anti-upper caste. There were rumours that Pathak may leave BSP but no one expected that it will happen so soon. Earlier in August, news of Pathak’s joining BJP filtered in through social media but he rubbished such claims terming them rumours spread by notorious elements. “I am a BSP worker and Mayawati Ji is my leader. I will continue to work under her guidance,” Pathak asserted.
Now rumour is hot that Pathak’s mentor and senior BSP leader, Satish Mishra, would leave Mayawati anytime now. However, to distance himself from Pathak, the news of expulsion of Pathak on ground of anti-party activities was conveyed to the media by Satish Chandra Mishra, who added that Pathak’s brother Rajesh Pathak and brother-in-law Guddu Tripathi were also ousted from the Party earlier, on similar charges. It may be mentioned that it was Pathak who informed media about expulsion of RK Chaudhary when he quits the Party.
Earlier, two other prominent BSP leaders Swamy Prasad Maurya and RK Maurya had jumped ships. Maurya had already join BJP. However, Mayawati had tried to downplay the loss “There is no place for selfish people in BSP. Chaudhary was expelled from the party in 2001. His departure had no effect earlier and will not have any impact this time too,” the BSP had said when Chaudhary announced his resignation, while it dubbed Maurya’s decision to quit party “a huge favour to the BSP.”