The SP, BSP and RLD held a rally in Deoband on Sunday, 7 April, where, despite long-standing differences between BSP supremo Mayawati and Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Aazad, his supporters made an appearance. They shouted slogans and waved banners in support of party chief Chandrashekhar Aazad.
The Bhim Army is not a part of the coalition that was holding the rally.
In fact, Mayawati has vehemently opposed Aazad and even attacked his decision to contest from the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat. She said that his move would benefit the BJP by dividing the Dalit vote.
(Translation: BJP's Chandrashekhar Aazad has been contesting from the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat to benefit the BJP by dividing the Dalit vote. The outfit has been built by BJP under conspiracy and is also doing disgusting politics with an anti-Dalit mentality.)
However, Aazad has refrained from reacting to her attack, instead sending his supporters to the Mayawati-Akhilesh rally, who pledged their support to her.
The Quint spoke to Aazad's supporters at the rally, who said that the leader had explained the situation to them and sent them there. They also said that they would support Mayawati despite her opposition to them.
They said that Aazad had said that the Bhim Army stands with Mayawati and the mahagathbandhan because they wanted freedom from the current government. "Bhim Army supports the gathbandhan with its full force," one of the supporters said.
He added, “There are attempts to weaken the alliance. But Bhim Army is with the alliance because it is the voice of Bahujan, and Chandrashekhar is helping Bahujans.”
One of the reasons for the Bhim Army to support the BSP supremo is that Mayawati continues to remain the voice of the Dalits and is synonymous with Dalit politics. Since Aazad too talks about Dalit rights, his natural partner should be Mayawati.
In a tweet after the rally, Aazad thanked his supporters for their love and said that they all have to rally against the BJP.
(Translation: Bahujan Samaj waving my poster at a rally of the Mahagathbandhan today shows their love for me, thank you everyone for your love, we all have to unite against the BJP.)
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