BSP leader Mayawati, after nearly nine years, rallied energetically in Lucknow on Thursday, heralding her ambitions for the 2027 elections. On the anniversary of party founder Kanshi Ram's demise, Mayawati targeted Akhilesh Yadav's PDA slogan (Backward, Dalit, Minority), attempting to transition the bipolar politics of Uttar Pradesh into a tripolar dynamic.
At the Kanshi Ram Memorial, Mayawati unveiled her strategy to reclaim her political ground and fabricate an electoral tapestry reminiscent of 2007 to triumph in 2027. She made a strategic move by fortifying the BSP's Dalit vote bank while courting OBC, extremely backward communities, and Brahmin-Thakur voters.
Mayawati explicitly stated that her party will work to align the backward and extremely backward communities along with the Brahmin and Kshatriya societies with the BSP. In a grand rally, Mayawati announced that National General Secretary Satish Chandra Mishra will spearhead the Brahmins, legislator Umashankar Singh will focus on the Kshatriyas, and State President Vishwanath Pal will associate with the backward and extremely backward communities. However, she kept her cards close regarding the Muslim community.
Plan to Win 2027 with the 2007 Formula
Embracing the inclusive politics of Bahujan Samaj, Mayawati treaded the path of inclusivity in 2007, securing a majority government for the first time. She harmoniously aligned the Dalit, extremely backward, Muslim, and Brahmin political chemistry.
With eyes set on 2027's elections, BSP had commenced social engineering in February itself. By March, they established brotherhood committees across districts, aiming to unify the backward communities. She commended Vishwanath Pal, highlighting his role as BSP State President.
BSP's New Social Engineering Initiative
Mayawati is actively conducting bi-monthly meetings with these committees to unite the backward and extremely backward communities. Now, the party is poised to integrate the Brahmin and Kshatriya societies in a mission-oriented mode. She entrusted Satish Chandra Mishra with Brahmin inclusion and Umashankar Singh with the Thakur vote, naming these leaders explicitly.
During her Thursday speech, Mayawati repeatedly addressed the concerns of impoverished upper castes, emphasizing that the governments of BJP, SP, and Congress have worsened their plight. She assured that in a BSP government, no community would face employment or livelihood crises. She praised Satish Chandra Mishra's son, Kapil Mishra, for his contributions to free medical services and other arrangements, reflecting his dedication to the party.
Why is Mayawati Silent on Muslims?
While Mayawati has not explicitly opened up on Muslim votes, her inclusion of former MPs Munquad Ali, Shamsuddin Raine, and former MLC Naushad Ali on the rally platform conveyed a message of honor and inclusion to the Muslim community. A senior BSP leader confessed to an existing state of uncertainty amongst Muslims regarding BSP; however, a dedicated plan is being brewed, set to be revealed later.
Notably, Mayawati tried establishing Muslim representatives at district, division, and state levels, signaling open doors for the community, although the current focus remains elsewhere due to their strong alliance with SP. Yet, Mayawati realizes that Muslim votes will gravitate to BSP when the Bahujan vote re-aligns, hence prioritizing Dalit and backward vote banks. She criticized the lack of development and safety for minorities, especially Muslims, aiming to rally them under the BSP banner.
Mayawati's Fierce Call for 2027 Victory
Mayawati left no doubt that she is determined for an unyielding fight in the 2027 assembly elections. She vowed to exhaust every option to secure victory. By allowing National Coordinator Akash Anand to speak before her, she subtly painted the party's future. She praised Akash’s immersion into the party's movement, encouraging members to support him as they supported her post-Kanshi Ram. This subtly positioned Akash as the future leader.
Her rally was a powerful political demonstration to reclaim her lost ground with a majority government in 2027, effectively ending a 15-year hiatus. The Kanshi Ram Memorial site was packed with a capacity crowd of three lakh, with overflowing audiences outside, signaling a political rejuvenation for the BSP ahead of 2027.
