Congress and BSP are preparing to play their Dalit card in Ambedkar Nagar on the 119th birth anniversary of Babasaheb Bhimbaro Ambedkar on Wednesday.
Tight security arrangements have been made in the district with AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi scheduled to flag off Chetna Yatra (awareness drive) to mark 125 years of party's establishment, and BSP planning to stage a demonstration against "wrong policies" of the UPA government and "short comings" in the Women Reservation bill.
"Though the BSP has given a state-wide agitation call, the focus would be more on Ambedkar Nagar district," sources in the party led by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati said here.
On the directives of Mayawati, a battery of senior leaders, including state cabinet ministers, will stage a demonstration, they said.
Ambedkar Nagar, which has a sizable Dalit population, holds significance for the BSP as it had been represented by Mayawati thrice in Lok Sabha in 1998, 1999 and 2004.
Meanwhile, Rahul, visiting the district for the second time, would flag off 10 vehicles to cover all the 403 assembly constituencies in the state to form part of party's Chetna yatra, a senior party leader said, adding he will also address a rally.
To ensure the success of the programme, senior party leaders, including UPCC president Rita Bahuguna Joshi, are already camping in the area.
"The party is mobilising workers from adjoining districts, including Barabanki, Gonda, Faizabad, Azamgarh and Basti, for the function," party sources said.
Both the programmes are slated to be held almost at the same time and at a short distance from each other.
"Four companies of Provincial Armed Constabullary (PAC) have been dispatched to the district from DGP headquarters," Additional Director General of Police Brij Lal said, adding that IG Faizabad has been asked to arrange additional force.
Sources said that two additional SPs, five deputy SPs, 40 sub-inspectors, 50 head constables and 150 constables from the adjoining districts would also be deployed. PTI
