LUCKNOW, July 14: The latest item on the agenda of the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh seems to be on expanding its vote-bank by organising melas and rallies rather than developing the state.After the Gautam Buddha Mela, Ambedkar Mela, Pasi rally, and Nai Sammelan, the BSP is now organising a Shahuji Maharaj Rally at Kanpur from July 26 to wean away the most dominant backward caste, the Kurmis, from both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP).Mayawati doesn't seem to mind ``using'' government machinery to make the event a success. She has appointed Cooperative Minister, R K Chaudhary as the mela in-charge. Chaudhary has been using the services of various government departments for the purpose.A number of BSP ministers and senior government officials are closely watching the preparations for the forthcoming mela. BSP supremo Kanshi Ram and Mayawati will jointly address a public meeting on July 26 in the city. Mayawati will also lay the foundation stone of a Gautam Buddha park on the same day. The BSP's rally spree is part of a tug-of-war between Mayawati and Mulayam Singh Yadav. While Mulayam claims that he has the unflinching support of the backwards, Mayawati is trying to demonstrate that the BSP enjoys the support of the Kurmis by holding the rally.
