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Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 22
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) today announced Dalit leader Praveen Taank as its candidate from Chandigarh to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Taank is a Mohali-based construction contractor, who is also the chairman of the tricity door-to-door garbage collection committee. Taank said he belonged to a family of sanitation workers and wished to spread the vision of “Bahujan people to every home”.
“Dalits have around two lakh votes in Chandigarh. This vote will solely go to Mayawati and the candidate chosen by her,” said Dr Meghraj Singh, convener, BSP (Haryana), at a press conference in the city.
Taank said a new party was needed in the city politics to tackle the issues of Muslims and Dalits. He, however, said the party was interested in working for the poor, “whether Dalit, Jain, Baniya or Brahmin”.
The possibility of an alliance between the SP and the BSP, akin to the one in Uttar Pradesh, has been ruled out for the Chandigarh seat. The 45-year-old leader said his main agenda would be to tackle drug abuse, if elected. “You go to any slum today; you will see that drugs are being sold openly.
And these drugs are being sold by the Congress and the BJP,” said Taank.
Taank emphasised that the police were not acting on the problem due to pressure from the government and a completely new face and government were required to bring about an effective change.
“Today, the ranking of Chandigarh in the Swachh Survekshan has dipped from one to 20. We need someone who truly understands the city and these matters,” said Taank.
“It used to be said that Chandigarh is the only city which does not have an electricity problem. Look at the city now, it has both water and electricity shortage,” he said.
Taank said he would also work to ensure equal access and quality of education.
Belongs to Gidderbaha
Taank pursued a BA in music. Taank originally belongs to Gidderbaha where he has served as a councillor and member of the market committee. He said he was also a member of the Aadi Dharam Samaj, which works for various social causes, including de-addiction. Taank had joined the BSP only earlier this month.
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