Lucknow. The BSP’s political base is shrinking in election after election. The political existence of the BSP, which has monopolized the governance of the exploited and deprived society, appears to be in danger. After the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BSP failed to open its account in the Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections. The BSP had decided to contest strongly in the UP by-elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, but this claim was limited to a mere statement. Mayawati held a public meeting in Jharkhand and Maharashtra but did not take any seat in the UP by-elections. In such a situation, the question arises: how will Mayawati be able to revive the BSP by staying away from the election campaign?
The BSP is contesting the maximum number of seats in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. Of the total 288 assembly seats in the state, the BSP is contesting on 237 seats. The BSP has fielded its candidates in all the 81 assembly seats of Jharkhand, while it is trying its luck in the 9 assembly seats of the UP by-elections. Despite this, BSP chief Mayawati was nowhere to be seen fighting, nor were her commanders. In such a situation, the BSP candidates did not get the support of the party’s big leaders in UP or in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, while the SP al-BJP leaders have worked hard. In such a situation, how will BSP open your account?
The BSP used to stay away from by-elections while in opposition, but has entered the field to preserve its existence in today’s politics. BSP chief Mayawati had said that the BSP will make efforts in the by-elections so 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 caravan of respect and self-respect. In this regard, the BSP had fielded its candidates for all the nine seats.
The BSP last won by-elections in Uttar Pradesh in 2010. BSP candidate Khatun Taufiq was elected MLA in the by-election held at Dumariyaganj assembly seat in Siddharthnagar when Mayawati was the Chief Minister. Since then, the BSP has failed to win any by-election and has now re-entered the electoral fray. The UP by-election may not be decisive for the government but it is definitely considered as the semi-final of 2027. In such a situation, Akhilesh Yadav had come to campaign in all 9 seats while CM Yogi held two public meetings in each seat. Apart from this, many senior BJP and SP leaders were also seen campaigning but Mayawati did not go anywhere to campaign nor was any senior leader of her party seen.
Of the nine UP assembly seats where by-elections are held, the BSP has its political dominance in assembly seats like Majhwan, Katehari and Meerapur. BSP has managed to win the Majhwan seat 5 times, while SP has not yet been able to open its account. Similarly, Meerapur, Khair and Katehari seats have also been more favorable for the BSP than the SP. Not only this, but it is also important in terms of Dalit votes. Despite this, SP has put in a lot of effort, but Mayawati stayed away.
If political experts are to be believed, the demands of the BSP, which is going through a deep crisis, to fight hard to regain the 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 candidates were fielded, it was believed that the BSP would use all its strength, at least try to win the seats where it dominated in UP, at any cost.
BSP chief Mayawati had released the list of star activists for the bypoll campaign in 9 seats of UP along with the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections, which included the names of many party leaders including Satish Chandra Mishra, Akash Anand and Mayawati. Campaigning for by-elections in Maharashtra, Jharkhand and UP was halted on Monday for voting to be held on November 20. Mayawati held a rally in Jharkhand and also spoke at the same public meeting in Maharashtra. Akash Anand also attended both the places along with Mayawati, but stayed away from the UP by-elections.
His support base is already on the political fringes of Uttar Pradesh politics. To keep its cadres active and bring new energy to the organisation, the BSP decided to field candidates for all the seats in the by-elections. The BSP’s situation in the by-elections is one of life and death. If the BSP wants to win even a single seat in the by-elections, it will have to compete with the SP-led alliance on the one hand and the BJP-led NDA on the other. Therefore, in the by-elections, the BSP faced the challenge of not only opening its account but also winning back the votes of the Dalit community. Despite this, questions are being raised over Mayawati staying away from the by-election campaign.
The political situation in Uttar Pradesh has changed after the Lok Sabha elections of 2024. Mayawati’s party account was not opened and her vote percentage was even less than Congress’ vote percentage. The Congress got 9.46 per cent of the votes after contesting 17 Lok Sabha seats, while the BSP got only 9.39 per cent of the votes after contesting 79 seats. The Indian alliance caused the biggest loss to the BSP in the Lok Sabha elections, because the votes of the Dalit community went to the SP and the Congress. Before this, the BSP votes still went to the BJP.
Since 2012, the BSP base has been continually weakening and to keep the Dalit community united, Mayawati has decided to try her luck in the by-elections. In the 2022 assembly elections, the party won only the Rasra assembly seat of Ballia, from where Uma Shankar Singh became MLA. There is not a single BSP MP in the Lok Sabha. In such a situation, the BSP is challenged to open its account in the by-elections.
The BSP, which is going through the most difficult phase in its political history, does not even have a concrete recovery plan. This is the reason why the party cannot intensify its efforts. By keeping Akash Anand out of UP, Mayawati has dashed hopes of youth uniting. Because of the way Mayawati keeps her distance, BSP is completely isolated from the ground. How will Mayawati be able to revive the BSP by staying away from the UP by-elections as well as the Maharashtra and Jharkhand elections?
