Uttar Pradesh: BSP threat from outside, and inside

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh is finding itself cornered by big and small parties even though there are still some months to go for the UP Assembly elections.

BSP president Mayawati may be putting up a brave front but insiders say that she is rather worried over the various political permutations that are posing a challenge to her.

Ms Mayawati’s biggest worry at the moment is the BJP which has been going into an overdrive when it comes to wooing dalits. The BJP’s “Hindus First” campaign, 2014, had helped the party win dalit support in the Lok Sabha elections, leaving the BSP without even a single seat.

With the BJP trying to sustain its hold among dalits, Ms Mayawati is trying the regain lost ground. However, the dominance of Brahmin leaders in the BSP — a fact being strongly resented by dalits — is proving to be a major hurdle.

The BSP has been pinning its hopes on western UP and aims at getting the undivided anti-BJP vote but the presence of AIMIM, Peace Party and Mahaan Dal — an OBC/ MBC outfit that declares its sole ideology is to grab power — in western UP and the aggressive campaign being carried out by them is also damaging the BSP. “These parties may not have a significant presence in state politics but they have their own pockets of influence and with their brand of campaigning, they can do more damage to us than they can do well for themselves,” admitted a BSP functionary. The Congress, on the other hand, has been quietly targeting the non-Jatav dalits and the campaign is being carried out by Congress MP and former bureaucrat P.L. Punia.

As it is, there is resentment among the non-Jatav dalits over the preferential treatment given to Jatavs in the party and the Congress hopes to cash in on this. “This time, all is not well within the BSP and anger is welling up among dalits who resent the importance given to Jatavs and Brahmins. The threat to the party is more internal than external,” said a UPCC leader.

The Samajwadi Party, for the first time, is also making a conscious effort to woo dalits and spearheading the campaign is party MLA Subhash Pasi.

To make matters worse for the BSP, former aides of Ms Mayawati who have been shown the door are ganging up against the party.

Former BSP ministers Babu Singh Kushwaha and Daddu Prasad have floated own outfits and are holding meetings across the state. Other like Jugal Kishore have joined the BJP and are using their old contacts to woo dalits.