To split Dalit vote Cong may make Meira PM before UP poll: Maya

Noida: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today said Congress might make either Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar or Union Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde the Prime Minister to split the Dalit vote ahead of the UP assembly polls.

“Congress is trying to split the Dalit vote but they are unable to do anything. The party, despite Babu Jagjivan Ram being the right candidate for the Prime Minister, did not make him…

“Afraid of BSP’s mass base, Congress may make either Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar or Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde as Prime Minister before the Assembly elections,” she said inaugurating the controversial Dalit icon park.

Mayawati accused the Congress-led coalition at the Centre of not paying heed to the development of Uttar Pradesh as also her proposal to carve out separate states of Bundelkhand, Poorvanchal and Western Uttar Pradesh.

She also alleged the Centre was not providing the state’s share from the central fund.

“Between 2007-08 to 2010-11, a total of Rs 21,385 crore is due with the central government, due to which many projects are stalled,” Mayawati said, adding “even a special package demanded by me has been turned down by the Centre”.

In 2007 UP assembly elections, Mayawati single handedly won the politically key state. The UP Chief Minister has never made secret of her ambition to become the first dalit Prime Minister.

PTI