Dalits loyal to Mayawati despite allegations

Agra: Allegations of corruption against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati are ignored in large parts of this Dalit land where people from socially marginalised communities braved the cold to vote in large numbers.

Dalits, formerly called untouchable are members of the lowest class in India,

A day after the first phase of assembly elections ended in 55 constituencies, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) loyalists see nothing wrong with Mayawati's lofty ideas.

Of the Taj city's almost two million people, a quarter are in the traditional leather shoe industry that has seen a significant turnaround in the past decade.

The Dalits of Agra region have become an economic entity and form the backbone of not only the shoe industry but of the iron foundries and the glass industry.

"They are now vocal and empowered. They believe it has all happened because of BSP's rise since 1989," said Abhinay Prasad, a consultant for the shoe industry.

The Dalits here address four-time chief minister Mayawati as "Behenji", or sister. In the predominantly Dalit areas of Jagdishpura, Bodla, Bheem Nagar or on the periphery of Agra, the refrain is the same.

"Mayawati is the new messiah who has done so much to lend dignity to our social reformers and leaders by installing their statues. What is wrong with that? Didn't other parties do that earlier?" asked a young activist, Netra Pal Singh.

"The BSP is not just a political outfit, it represents the continuation of the Dalit struggle and is a manifestation of our deep-seated frustrations," he added. Taking after BSP founder leader Kanshi Ram, Mayawati has held on to these ideas.

Dalits here vote en bloc for her, said activist Surendra Singh Chandel.