Mayawati’s Understanding With BJP In Uttar Pradesh Has Been Exposed

By Pradeep Kapoor

LUCKNOW: The council polls for 10 seats from Uttar Pradesh exposed understands between BSP and BJP. For long, there were rumours about BSP leader Mayawati’s links with the BJP but the approaching by polls have brought about the understanding into open. Shocked by Samajwadi Party’s move to cause revolt in her party to defeat her candidate, BSP supremo announced that her party would support BJP in MLC polls in future.

The understanding between BSP and BJP came out in open when saffron party announced the names of only eight candidates for 10 seats. BJP did not announce the name of ninth candidate in order to provide safe passage to BSP candidate needing support from outside to win the polls.

It would be worth mentioning here that SP could ensure victory for only one seat but announced support to 11 candidates who stood as independents. This was done to ensure proper election and expose understanding between BSP and BJP. Samajwadi Party also succeeded in causing revolt in BSP as five proposers of official candidate withdrew and met SP national President Akhilesh Yadav. The cancellation of nomination papers of SP supported independent candidate saved the situation for BSP candidate.

Shocked by the revolt of seven MLAs who visited the office of Samajwadi Party and met Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati suspended them and recommended termination of their membership from the House. Mayawati is now repenting her party’s alliance with Samajwadi Party in Lok Sabha polls 2019. She is also unhappy with her decision of withdrawing her case of state guest house episode of June 2 1995.

The bonhomie between Mayawati and BJP was quite evident during past few months of pandemic when she was seen advising Modi and Yogi Governments rather being critical as opposition party.

The political commentators were surprised when Mayawati started criticising Rahul and Priyanka and keeping silence on PM Modi and UP CM Yogi Adityanath. The understanding between Mayawati and BJP is not new. She came to power and became CM with the support of BJP. So much so Mayawati also visited Gujarat to support BJP candidates and shared dias with the then CM Narendra Modi. The decision of Mayawati to support BJP is a calculated move after realisation of erosion of support base. Ever since BSP was voted out of power in 2012, there has been sharp erosion in support base of party.

During last eight years, Samajwadi Party, BJP and Congress have succeeded in making inroads into dalit support of BSP. The emergence of another dalit leader Chander Shekhar Ravan has also damaged Mayawati and her party BSP. Unlike Mayawati who prefers to make herself inaccessible to party leaders and workers, Chandra Shekhar is always available to his workers.

The forthcoming polls for assembly seats will also expose the real strength of her party at ground level as Mayawati decided to contest byelections for the first time. With Mayawati deciding to support BJP in MLC polls in future, Samajwadi Party may join hands with Congress in changed scenario. The possibility of BJP fighting assembly polls with BSP as alliance partner to take on SP with Congress cannot be ruled out in 2022. (IPA Service)