Mahan Dal, a political party in Uttar Pradesh led by Keshav Dev Maurya and claims to have the support of some caste groups within the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) such as Mauryas, Shakyas and Kushwahas, announced its unconditional support to the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in 2024 polls. The party took the decision after the party’s workers meet in Lucknow held on June 15.
“We are offering unconditional support to the BSP. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the BSP won 10 seats and the Samajwadi Party (SP) emerged victorious on five. Afterwards in the 2022 Assembly polls, we stood with the SP, and it came second, way ahead of the BSP. Now in 2024, we want to show that whomsoever the Mahan Dal supports will come second or first. Hence we are offering unconditional support to the BSP,” said Mr. Maurya to reporters in Lucknow.
Mahan Dal, founded in 2008 by Mr. Maurya, is considered to enjoy support among some sections of the OBCs in eastern and central U.P., but failed to achieve any electoral success. In the 2022 Vidhan Sabha polls, it allied with the SP-led alliance. Some of its leaders fought the polls on the SP symbol. In the 2014 parliamentary and 2012 Vidhan Sabha elections, the Mahan Dal allied with the Congress, but failed to make any successful mark in the poll outcome.
