One time close lieutenant of BSP chief Mayawati and now BJP legislator Swamy Prasad Maurya said that he would teach Mayawati a political lesson because ‘she has always played with the sentiments of Dalits’.
“It is unfortunate that Mayawati always played with the sentiments of Dalits. She used them as vote bank. She sold tickets because Dalits believed and supported her during thick and thin. She sold that trust during elections. But things are changing now. This election has made the BSP realise that Dalits were no longer Mayawati’s bonded labourer,” Maurya said on Wednesday.
The legislator said: “I will teach Mayawati politics. Either she will be finished or will be forced to shift her base. The day I quit the BSP it was reduced to number three position in the state.”
Once considered very closae to Mayawati, Maurya was the virtual second-in-command in BSP. But a year back, bad blood developed between the two forcing Maurya to join the BJP. In his first press conference after joining the BJP, Maurya had claimed that he would dash Mayawati’s pride.
“The beginning has been made. The BSP drew a blank in lok Sabha polls and and has been reduced to 19 members in the UP Assembly. There is question mark on whether Mayawati will be able to get reelected to Rajya Sabha now,” he said.
When asked about Mayawati’s complain about EVM tampering, Maurya said that she should accept the defeat gracefully.
“EVM kharab nahi hua. Mayawati ji ka dimaag kharaab ho gaya hai. She should realise that she is fast losing her vote bank. Instead of blaming EVM, she should try to set her house in order first,” said Maurya.
On a query whether he has got fillers about his inclusion in the UP ministry, Maurya said that decision will be taken by BJP high command. “It is a disciplined party. The decisions are taken after considering all pros and cones. I will accept whatever responsibility is given to me,” he said.