Ahead of UP polls, Mayawati woos Brahmins

Wooing Brahmins ahead of the assembly election in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Mayawati on Sunday supported reservation for the poor and unemployed among upper castes.

Despite upper castes remaining at the helm for several years, most Brahmins, barring a few, had remained backward, economically and in other areas, and faced problems of poverty and unemployment, she told a 'Brahmin Bhaichara Sammelan' in Lucknow.

"This is the main reason why poor and unemployed people among the upper castes have been demanding reservation on economic basis in the sphere of education and government jobs. The BSP fully supports this," Mayawati said adding she had written letters to the Prime Minister several times in this regard.

The sammelan was organised by the Bahujan Samaj Party as a show of strength for the community which had played an important role in party's success in the 2007 assembly election.

An idol of Elephant God Ganesh was displayed prominently on the stage. Elephant is the symbol of the BSP.

The Chief Minister said she had given due representation to Brahmins in her government and gave them important responsibilities.

She also took the opportunity to remove misconceptions among the Brahmins that only a few of them and their close relatives had benefited during her rule.

Mayawati said Brahmins and upper castes had embraced the BSP ideology before the last Vidhan Sabha election as they were neglected by the previous governments.