LUCKNOW Facing an existential political crisis and a heavily eroded voter base, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati has called for a show of strength in Lucknow on October 9 to mark the death anniversary of party founder Kanshi Ram. The rally comes as the party prepares a do-or-die campaign for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections in a bid to regain its lost political footprint.
Back in June 1995, Mayawati took oath of office as chief minister of UP. The young leader, just 39 then, was the country’s first Dalit woman CM, emerging from the churn of the Mandal revolution that gave birth to BSP and the coalition of Dalit and backward communities crafted by her mentor, Kanshi Ram.
Leaders of the NDA alliance, SP, Congress and smaller parties are on the ground to give momentum to their election campaign with rallies and yatras across the state. But Mayawati is confined within the walls of her bungalow in Mall Avenue, Lucknow. “The BJP, SP, Congress and ASP are working to make inroads into the core support base of the BSP – the Jatavs. It will further weaken BSP’s hold in state politics. There is no new narrative from BSP chief Mayawati to attract voters. The emerging political scenario is challenging for the BSP, “ he added.
In 2007, she achieved an even more impressive feat, forging a coalition of extremes between Dalits, Muslims and Brahmins, as she swept to power with the first full majority government in almost a decade. Even when she lost power in 2012, her core constituents stood strongly behind her. Prof Vivek Kumar of the School of Social Sciences, JNU, said the BSP is facing a momentous challenge since its formation in 1984. The 2027 polls may witness the division of Jatav votes among the BSP, SP-Congress alliance and ASP.
The party chief holds meetings with party coordinators, collects feedback about organisation works, discusses strategy for assembly polls and screens candidates, according to BSP leaders. After appointment to the key post, Akash wanted a complete overhaul in the party organisation, presence of the party on all social media platforms, establishment of a social media cell to set the narrative for the election, removal of old party leaders who were not working with missionary zeal and promotion of young workers in the organisation, said a BSP leader. The rainbow coalition of Dalit and OBC alliance built by Kanshi Ram as Bahujan Samaj has been broken with the shift of OBC and various Dalit communities from the BSP,” he said.
“There are four forces in UP politics today including BJP, SP-Congress alliance, BSP and another emerging alliance – ASP led by Chandra Shekhar Azad, Apni Janata Party led by Swami Prasad Maurya and AIMIM led by Asaduddin Owaisi.
