After UP), if the blue juggernaut of the BSP is confidently targeting any state, it is neighbouring Madhya Pradesh.
After Uttar Pradesh (UP), if the blue juggernaut of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is confidently targeting any state, it is neighbouring Madhya Pradesh (MP).
The significant strides made by the BSP in the assembly election have led to the belief that the Mayawati factor will play an important role in the April 23- 30 Lok Sabha poll in the state.
The BSP’s victory in seven assembly seats has considerably changed the political configuration for the general election. With a sizable chunk (13.14%) of the schedule caste (SC) population and 21% scheduled tribes, coupled with Mayawati’s bid to replicate the UP model in MP by fielding a good number of Brahmin and other upper-caste candidates, the party is expecting to repeat at least its 1996 feat, when it had won the Rewa and Satna seats.
On paper, the mathematical calculations and caste equations seem to be favouring the BSP, but ground reality suggests the flight won’t be easy for the Elephant. BSP cadres hardly sound enthusiastic, though they hope to bag two to three seats if free and fair polls are held.
Braving scorching heat a sizeable crowd was in attendance at Mayawati’s rally here on Tuesday. A little pricking and many of them outpoured their fear of the administration influenced by the ruling party (BJP) not permitting them to vote freely.
At 32, Vinod Kadam said he was a veteran BSP worker. He claimed to have first joined Bamsaf, the erstwhile avtar of the BSP, when he was 10. But dismay is writ large on his face.
“This rally is nothing. We had much bigger gatherings during the assembly election. But they did not translate into votes due to repression let loose by the administration at the behest of the BJP. Indications are a similar situation will prevail in the villages this time as well,” Kadam feared. His views were echoed by LR Singh Sainik, an ex-serviceman.
Morena, with at least 3.5 lakh SC population, is the BSP’s best bet. Sainik felt the party’s chances could further look up with the help of the 1.5 lakh Brahmin support base as the BSP candidate from this constituency this time is a Brahmin. But there is a big if. “The writ of the election commission does not run here. The repressive activities of the biased administration have made total mockery of the election,” he said.
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