BSP’s political base is shrinking election after election. The political existence of BSP, which has monopolized rule over the exploited and deprived society, seems to be in danger. After the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BSP could not open its account in the Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections. BSP had decided to contest the elections strongly alone in UP by-elections, Maharashtra and Jharkhand, but this claim remained limited to just a claim. Mayawati held one public meeting each in Jharkhand and Maharashtra, but did not hold any seat in the UP by-elections. In such a situation, the question arises that how will Mayawati be able to revive the BSP by staying away from the election campaign?
BSP is contesting the maximum number of seats in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. Out of total 288 assembly seats in the state, BSP is contesting on 237 seats. BSP has fielded its candidates in all the 81 assembly seats of Jharkhand, while it is trying its luck on all the 9 assembly seats of UP by-election. Despite this, BSP chief Mayawati was not seen struggling anywhere and neither were her commanders. In such a situation, BSP candidates neither got the support of big leaders of the party in UP nor in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, whereas leaders from SP to BJP have worked hard. In such a situation, how will BSP open its account?
BSP used to maintain distance from the by-elections while being in the opposition, but has entered the field to preserve its existence in the current politics. BSP chief Mayawati had said that BSP will make efforts in the by-elections that its people do not wander here and there. He should fully join the BSP and continue his missionary efforts to become the ruling class by becoming the charioteer of Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar’s self-respect and self-respect caravan. Under this, BSP had fielded its candidates on all 9 seats.
How was BSP’s performance on by-election seats?
BSP last won the by-election in Uttar Pradesh in 2010. BSP candidate Khatoon Taufiq was elected MLA in the by-election held on Dumariyaganj assembly seat of Siddharthnagar when Mayawati was the Chief Minister. Since then, BSP has not been able to win any by-election and now has again entered the electoral fray. The UP by-election may not make or break anything for the government, but it is definitely being considered as the semi-final of 2027. In such a situation, Akhilesh Yadav had come to campaign on all the 9 seats, while CM Yogi had two public meetings on each seat. Apart from this, many big leaders of BJP and SP were also seen campaigning, but Mayawati did not go anywhere to campaign nor was any big leader of her party seen.
In the 9 assembly seats of UP where by-elections are held, BSP has its political dominance on assembly seats like Majhwan, Katehari, Meerapur. BSP has managed to win the Majhwan seat 5 times, whereas SP has not been able to open its account yet. Similarly, Meerapur, Khair and Katehari seats have also been more favorable for BSP than SP. Not only this, it is also important in terms of Dalit votes. Despite this, SP has tried hard, but Mayawati kept herself aside.
BSP’s situation is do or die
If political experts are to be believed, the claims of BSP, which is going through a deep crisis, to fight strongly, are to regain its lost political ground. Mayawati had fielded candidates to maintain her dominance in the UP by-elections and also to maintain some influence in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. In such a situation, when the candidates were being fielded, it was believed that BSP would use all its strength, at least it would try to win the seats where it had dominance in UP, at any cost.
BSP chief Mayawati had released the list of star campaigners for the by-election campaign on 9 seats of UP along with Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections, which included the names of many party leaders including Satish Chandra Mishra, Akash Anand along with Mayawati. The campaign for the by-elections in Maharashtra, Jharkhand and UP has stopped on Monday for the voting to be held on November 20. Mayawati held a rally in Jharkhand and addressed the same public meeting in Maharashtra also. Akash Anand also went to both the places along with Mayawati, but maintained distance from the UP by-elections.
His support base is already on the political margins in the politics of Uttar Pradesh. In order to keep its cadre active and to bring new energy into the organization, BSP had decided to field candidates on all the by-election seats. BSP’s situation in the by-elections is do or die. If BSP wants to win even a single seat in the by-elections, it will have to compete with the SP led alliance on one side and the BJP led NDA on the other side. That is why in the by-elections, BSP faced the challenge of not only opening its account but also bringing back the votes of the Dalit community. Despite this, questions are being raised about Mayawati maintaining distance from the by-election campaign.
Who caused the biggest loss to BSP in Lok Sabha?
The political situation of Uttar Pradesh has changed after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Mayawati’s party’s account was not opened and its vote share was even lower than Congress’s vote share. Congress got 9.46 percent vote share after contesting on 17 Lok Sabha seats, while BSP got only 9.39 percent vote share after contesting on 79 seats. India alliance caused the biggest loss to BSP in the Lok Sabha elections, because the votes of the Dalit community went to SP and Congress. Before this, BSP’s votes kept going to BJP.
Since 2012, the base of BSP has been continuously weakening and to keep the Dalit community together, Mayawati has decided to try her luck in the by-elections. In the 2022 assembly elections, the party had won only the Rasra assembly seat of Ballia, from where Uma Shankar Singh has become the MLA. There is not a single MP from BSP in the Lok Sabha. In such a situation, there is a challenge for BSP to open its account in the by-elections.
BSP, which is going through the most difficult phase in its political history, does not even have any concrete plan for recovery. This is the reason why the party is not able to sharpen its efforts. By keeping Akash Anand out of UP, Mayawati has dashed the hopes of joining the youth. Due to the way Mayawati is maintaining distance, BSP is being completely cut off from the ground. How will Mayawati be able to revive BSP by keeping distance from UP by-elections as well as Maharashtra and Jharkhand elections?
