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Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati has taken a bold step in amending the party’s election strategy in the upcoming polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana. Departing from her earlier stance, where she had announced the BSP’s intention to go solo and refrain from releasing an election manifesto, Mayawati has revised her approach to challenge rival parties in the electoral battleground.
Following the announcement of the assembly election schedule by the Election Commission, the BSP surprised many by forging an alliance with the Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP) in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Additionally, the BSP has released a comprehensive election manifesto for the upcoming assembly elections in Telangana. The manifesto pledges jobs for youth, land for the underprivileged, housing for the homeless, job reservations for women, and the distribution of free washing machines and smartphones among women.
This shift in strategy is notable given Mayawati’s past refusal to publish election manifestoes, relying instead on the performance of previous BSP governments in Uttar Pradesh during election campaigns. However, BSP’s Rajya Sabha MP, Ramji Gautam, emphasized that the party’s flexibility in strategy aims to position itself as a major player in the government formation in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana.
Mayawati is scheduled to address multiple rallies in support of BSP candidates. In Rajasthan, she will hold eight rallies from November 17 to 20. Additionally, she plans to address two rallies in Chhattisgarh on November 9 and two in Telangana on November 22 and 23. In Madhya Pradesh, eight public meetings are scheduled between November 6 and 14.
The BSP’s electoral history in these states reveals its fluctuating fortunes. In Rajasthan, the party has secured seats despite varying vote shares over the years. In Chhattisgarh, there has been a decline in vote share since 2003, while in Madhya Pradesh, the party’s performance has varied from as high as 8.97% and seven seats in 2008 to a decline in both vote share and seats in subsequent elections.
