MUMBAI, 7 January 2008 — In a major blow to Congress party in Maharashtra, senior party leader and former member of Parliament, Sudhir Sawant, was formally inducted into Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) at a press conference here late Saturday in the presence of the state BSP President Vilas Garud and other key party officials.

Launching a tirade against the Congress, Sawant who resigned from the Sonia Gandhi-led Congress last month, said “My aim to join the BSP is to make it a powerful instrument of change, to help it emerge as the credible alternative to secure power in Maharashtra.”

Sawant said that he would help coordinate BSP’s functioning in the state and prepare it for fighting the next assembly elections in 2009.

When asked whether the BSP would go it alone or align with state parties, Sawant said this issue would be sorted out “at an appropriate time.”

Speaking about BSP’s priorities in the state, Sawant said minorities and Dalits look up to Mayawati and her party in a big way. “It will prove to be a potent political force since the masses have great faith and hope in Mayawati,” he said.

Speculations were rife for quite some time that Sawant, who hails from Konkan region, will join the BSP. However, he said that he does not harbor ambitions to become a legislator or minister, but to work with his colleagues to bring BSP to power in Maharashtra and in New Delhi.

Speaking about Congress, Sawant alleged, “Congress has become a party of the sycophants and power brokers, where honesty, competence and loyalty has no place. It has become a feudal monolith and the country has been parceled to new landlords, where only their children and relatives and not workers have a place.”

Sawant further said “When I raised issues of paralysis in governance and inner party corruption, Sonia Gandhi chose to protect the corrupt elements and without even an inquiry humiliated my loyalty and honesty, by forcing me out of the party,” he added.

Meanwhile in another development, the working president of the Shiv Sena, Udhav Thackeray yesterday advocated the implementation of compulsory identification cards for all residents of Mumbai, similar to the one that was implemented by the Delhi government last January.

Speaking to the media, Udhav said from Jan. 15 this year, it will become compulsory for all residents of Delhi to carry identity cards, and the Sena welcomes Delhi government’s decision. “Now it appears that the Delhi residents have recognized the importance of identity cards,” Udhav said.

“From the point of security perceptions, the identity card should be made compulsory for all residing in Mumbai. However, the compulsory identity cards should have the recognition of the state government, and should have details like name, address, date of birth, blood group, Precautions should be taken that his identity card is not misused as a ‘visiting card,” Udhav said.

The Sena leader further stated that even in China no resident can move from one city to another without showing the identity card. “The population of Mumbai has exploded and reached to more than 20 million. Thousands of migrants from other parts of the country are landing in Mumbai daily. The influx of Bangladeshi infiltrators into Mumbai has also crossed several millions. It is therefore necessary to issue the compulsory identity card so as to identify as to who is the resident and citizen of Mumbai,” Udhav added.

“Presently identity proof is required for cell phone connection. Therefore non should have the objection and opposition to carry their own identity card as means of identification. If the identity card system is implemented this would help in security purposes,” Udhav said.

Speaking on the issue of the compulsory implementation of identity card system, Sena leader Subash Desai said “ There should be a questionnaire system wherein people coming to Mumbai should be asked as to why he has come, where would he stay, what is his job, etc. Terrorist acts in Mumbai are executed by infiltrators from outside the city. Even if the Constitution of the country has given the citizens of the country the right to move in any part of the country, it does not mean that this liberty is meant to create terror acts and license for causing inconveniences in other states. Therefore it is necessary to implement the compulsory identity card system in Mumbai and in the State,” Desai added.