Chandra Shekhar Azad To Launch Political Party On Sunday, Wary Mayawati Keeping A Close Watch

There are also reports that Chandra Shekhar has been in touch with some BSP leaders and plans to wean them over.

Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Azad

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh): Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar is all set to launch his political party on Sunday in Delhi. Significantly, the announcement will take place on the birth anniversary of Bahujan Samaj Party founder, late Kanshi Ram. Azad has been up in arms against the BJP-ruled central government the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) and National Register of Citizens (NRC). His party on the lines of Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party will seek to woo votes of the Dalits, backwards, Muslims. A Bhim Army spokesperson said the names for the political outfit that are up for discussion are -- Azad Bahujan Party, Bahujan Awam Party and Azad Samaj Party. A majority of the leaders and office bearers supported Azad Bahujan Party but the name will be finalized after the Election Commission gives its approval, the spokesperson said. The party will release its manifesto, launch a membership drive and set its agenda on Sunday. The Bhim Army has already launched its student wing, Bhim Army Students' Federation (BASF), to mobilize the youths. After the launch of the new political party, Bhim Army will work as a social and cultural organization of the party, sources said. The Bhim Army has also launched a campaign on social media, highlighting the need for a new political party. The Bhim Army, it is said, will directly encroach upon the vote base of the Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh. Interestingly, to counter the Bhim Army's plan to enter the political arena and erode the political base of the Bahujan Samaj Party, BSP chief Mayawati has convened a meeting of party leaders and office bearers in the first week of April. Mayawati, who is in in Delhi, is said to be keeping a close witch on the activities of the Bhim Army. There are also reports that Chandra Shekhar has been in touch with some BSP leaders and plans to wean them over. Moreover, during his Lucknow visit on March 2, the Bhim Army chief had indicated that he would join the Bhagidari Sankalp Morcha, a united front launched by five small political parties in Uttar Pradesh for the next UP assembly elections in 2022. (With additional information from IANS)