On Tuesday, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati directed the party men of not using their big photographs on hoardings and banners during the Lok Sabha election campaign, but rather the banners must have her photo in it, along with Dalit icons and party symbols, with a small photograph of the candidate on the lower corner.
The directive was issued to the party leaders and office-bearers by BSP zonal coordinator and Rajya Sabha member Bhimrao Ambedkar.
He said,”The party president has asked the leaders and candidates not to put up their big pictures on hoardings and banners at public places. Many leaders have put up hoardings which violate the directive. All such hoardings and banners should be immediately removed.”
He asserted that the violation of the order would lead to expulsion.
“If a leader wishes to put up hoardings, he will have to submit an application with the sample of the hoarding at the state unit office. The approved samples will be used for campaigning and creating awareness among the people,” Ambedkar said.
“The party leaders should understand that ‘behenji’ (Mayawati) is the messiah of dalits. She is revered by members of the Scheduled Caste community across the country and there is no bigger dalit leader than her. All hoardings and banners should have her big pictures,” he said, as reported.
The BSP leaders were also instructed to work in co-ordination with the Samajwadi Party (SP) leaders and workers.
According to BSP leaders, the party is also planning to launch campaigns to create awareness about the working of voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) as it would be used in polling.
Also, the BSP is also planning to celebrate the birth anniversary of party founder Kanshi Ram on March 15.