From villain to hero- this transformation is very quick as expelled BJP leader Dayashankar Singh has become the fulcrum around whom politics in Uttar Pradesh revolves - for the time being.
All the three major political parties BSP, BJP and Samajwadi party are facing Dayashankar syndrome because Singh belongs to upper caste, a thakur which is very influential and pro-active group. Though only 7.6 per cent of the population, they wield enormous muscle and money power to tilt the electoral balance.
Despite High Court has refused bail to Singh BJP is offensive. It has initiated a fight on the name of samman (honor) of beti because Thakurs have been the first choice of BJP. In its fight against Mayawati the BJP has thrown its weight behind Swati Singh, wife of Dayashankar, who is demanding action against BSP leaders for using derogatory words against her minor daughter.
“Can we forget the insult Mayawati has done to Thakur when she arrested Raja Bhaiya in false POTA caseIJ. If she is dalit we are thakur and will contest this case at every level – politically and at the court,” Arun Singh, an office-bearer of UP Kshatriya Mahasangh told The Pioneer.
Raghuraj Pratap Singh, also called Raja Bhaiya, is a cabinet minister in Akhilesh Yadav Government. Despite an independent MlA Samajwadi Party has always propped him up as Thakur face of the party. Mulayam Singh Yadav knows that SP came to power because of support of upper caste therefore it is dilly-dallying the arrest of Singh, against whom BSP leaders had filed a case.
“If Government wish it can arrest Singh any time. It has given him (Singh) a long rope so that he can use all his legal options. Government does not want to earn the ire of Thakurs in this election year by arresting him,” Dr SP Pandey, Convener, Govind Ballaph Pant Institute of Rural Studies in lucknow said.
Singh is on the run since July 20 when he gave a statement in Mau using a derogatory language against Mayawati. The next day Mayawati used Singh’s statement as hammer to beat BJP forcing party leaders to run for cover. Fearing dalit backlash Singh, who was vice-president of the party, was stripped off party post and by night BJP expelled him from the party for six years.
Cashing in on the situation BSP staged a protest in Hazratganj where party leaders used derogatory words against women family member of Singh including his minor daughter. BJP which was pushed to the wall saw an opportunity in BSP’s diatribe and became offensive against BSP leaders and Mayawati.
Dr Pandey said that Mayawati’s tactical retreat by calling off July 25 agitation reflects her poll strategy. She also does not want to antagonize upper caste she has has cancelled all agitations and put an embargo on BSP leaders. They have been asked not hold rallies without her permission, he said.
“Dayashankar Singh will be arrested one day but he has given a new dimension to UP politics when all political parties tryinbg to play their cards astutely,” he said.