PANJIM: Bhandari Samaj youth have steered clear that even as Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal met the Gomantak Bahujan Samaj leaders the Bhandari community is not obliged or affiliated to any political party. Delhi’s Deputy CM Manish Sisodia has declared that a person from Bhandari Samaj would be made chief minister if the party comes to power in Goa which has rippled a misunderstanding among people that the Samaj was tied to a political party, clarified Bhandari Samaj youth at a press conference in the city on Wednesday.
“We wish to clear the air that Bhandari Samaj is not tied to any political party. We are not affiliated to any party. Arvind Kejriwal’s declaration may have political benefit behind it. He must have done this after understanding many things. They may want to increase their seats and rule the State. That is their party prerogative but as a Samaj we cannot have any links with them,” said Bhandari Samaj youth.
They maintained if West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee wants to meet Samaj leaders or for that matter if any leader comes to inquire about these traditions there is nothing wrong in this,” Samaj youth said.
They said that they are open to discuss if any party devises schemes for the welfare of the Samaj as it has remained backward.
Asked about Samaj preident Ashok Naik’s statement that Samaj would support any party that supports it or gives tickets, they argued Naik had not banned other parties from meeting the Samaj. However, they maintatined Samaj would not support any one political party. “If seats are allocated to Bhandari samaj candidates, Samaj will take all into confidence,” said the youth.