BJP leaders should desist from making derogatory remarks, says Athawale

LUCKNOW: A day after BJP MLA Sadhna Singh stirred a controversy by calling BSP chief Mayawati 'worse than an eunuch', union minister and Republican Party of India chief Ramdas Thawale said that such remarks would only dent the Saffron party's prospects in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections since dalits would get more consolidated with the BSP.

"Mayawati ji is a woman and therefore we all respect her. BJP leaders should refrain from making any sexist comment which dents their party image," said Athawale, who is an ally in BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.

Athawale said there was no doubt that the BSP held a sway on dalit vote bank and therefore his party wanted to expand itself in politically crucial UP. He also claimed that if RPI is given a chance to contest from UP then the party would be able to divide dalit votes to the benefit of the BJP.

Athawale said that Mayawati too should think before calling BJP a 'casteist party' since she formed the government in UP thrice with BJP's support in the past. "When she formed a government with BJP in the past then she never called it a casteist party. Now, she is speaking the opposite," Athawale said, reiterating his stand that Mayawati should support BJP if she wanted welfare of dalits.