LUCKNOW: The State’s bureaucracy was rapped on its Knuckles by Bahujan Samaj Party chief Kanshi Ram, who feels that “the majority of the bureaucrats are with the BJP.”

Striking an ominous note, Kanshi Ram called upon the bureaucrats, “to mend their ways.”

Kanshi Ram, who was in a relaxed mood, however, did not think it proper to elaborate on his waming. “Well, it is for them (bureaucrats) to understand, they are wise people,” he said.

The BSP leader, whose party along with Samajwadi Party has staked claim to form a Govemment in Uttar Pradesh, said between sips of tea at the State Guest House on Nov.30. :”Politically we are much ahead but bureaucratically at par with the BJP, You see the majority of bureaucrats are with the BJP.”

Kanshi Ram said:”They call me the messiah of the backwards. You want to know why? It is just because I never dupe my people. | keep my promises.”

Asked to comment on the success at the hustings, Kanshi Ram said: “I cannot say that we have done exceptionally well, All l can say is that we have done well. Actually I was struggling hard for absolute majority which was denied by V.P.Singh, Laloo Prasad Yadav and Bukhari in collaboration with Advani and Joshi.”

Attributing his success to the tremendous faith the people have in him, he quipped, “I told my electorate that! Wanted their unconditional support and they expressed their confidence in me. Now it becomes my duty to safeguard the interests of those who have pledged their full support to me.”

Regarding the sharing of power with the SP chief he said:”The sharing will be as per Mulayam Singh Yadav desires, we will have a share in Government only to strengthen Yadav’s hand. | will strictly resist the idea of a Deputy Chief Minister,” adding *“Mulayam Singh Yadav’s party has many aspirants for a berth in the Ministry but we do not have a single aspirant.”

When asked to explain why he does not want to demand his due share, Kanshi Ram said:”I do not want Yadav to make any excuses. T wants him to deliver the goods to the electorate. I do not want to handicap him like the previous time. Twill not minds even if Yadav has 100 percent share in the Government.”

Talking on his role in the present circumstances, the BSP leader did not like the word monitor. “I will think of a better word-say, for instance Mulayam Singh Yadav’s helper,” he said with a smile. As for how long he would continue to be Mulayam Singh’s helper, Kanshi Ram quipped, “as long as the parties supporting us want to, It is their problem (Janata Dal or Congress), not ours.”

Then, as an afterthought, he added, “I have not yet thought of how long the Government will last, legally of course five years I should say, I have to think of many things, and the first priority is to form the Government then the Ministry and then the running of the Government. We will cross the bridges as and when they come,” he added.

“Both Congress and Janata Dal have extended their support to us. We did not ask for it. Tomorrow if L.K.Advani wished to give support why should T deny it OF course, it should be an unconditional one,” Kanshi Ram clarified. He felt that Mulayam Singh Yadav is “a true politician. You see there is some difference in my style of politics and his (Yadav’s), the main reason for this is that Yadav has been in political life for a longer period. He has been a part and parcel of the political field. That is why l asked Yadav to make only such promises that he could fulfill.”

“My target is to rules the country and very soon not a Single Brahminical party like the Congress, BJP, JD, will have a single seal.

He attributed the success of his party parily to the Scheduled Castes” support.

Article extracted from this publication >>  December 10, 1993