Desperate to regain the party’s lost ground in Uttar Pradesh, Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati announced on Sunday that her party will contest all the 10 assembly seats going to by-elections in the state.
Earlier, the BSP mostly did not contest bypolls.
Mayawati took to X (formerly Twitter) to share details of a meeting she held with party officials in which a decision was taken to field BSP candidates in from 10 constituencies going to bypolls.
She also revealed that the candidates for Phulpur and Manjhawa constituencies have been announced.
During the meeting, Mayawati launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party-led governments at the Centre and in UP for neglecting vital issues and exhorted party workers to work wholeheartedly for victory in the upcoming bypolls.
“The Central government has not only failed to stem poverty, unemployment, price rise and backwardness, it has also not paid attention to these issues because of which there is immense anger among the public. To divert people’s attention... it is indulging in bulldozer politics… and creating disharmony between castes and religions,” she said.
She also listed as “conspiracies” the government’s attempts to bring in a new religious conversion bill, and to weaken the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes through the creamy layer proposals.
Her ire was also directed at the proposed amendments in the Waqf Act. She said the government was “unduly” interfering in the management of these properties. “The poor and hardworking janata is hungry… (and wants to) only to live with self-respect and dignity,” she said.
Addressing concerns over flood relief and law and order, Mayawati noted that the state government’s efforts have been largely superficial, with more focus on media statements rather than effective on-ground relief.
She also criticised the government’s approach to land management and lease policies, accusing it of bias and of creating chaos.
Emphasising the BSP’s commitment to the underprivileged, Mayawati also urged party members to fully commit their efforts to the campaign, stating that the success of the party would directly benefit the movement for the rights of the poor and exploited. She said the party officials should work with the motto of ‘Bahujan Hitay, Bahujan Sukhay’ (welfare for all).
Significantly, with the bypolls approaching, the BSP is gearing up to strengthen its position in the state’s political landscape, with Mayawati leading the charge. Mayawati said that as the BJP had made the bypolls a matter of prestige, her party would put up a strong fight on all seats.
Mayawati urged BSP members to maintain their unwavering support, emphasising that the party, dedicated to the welfare of the poor and marginalised, does not rely on wealthy benefactors or big capitalists like other parties.
She said that since the public did not trust the BJP anymore, it was imperative for BSP to reaffirm its commitment to its core principles of social justice and equity to regain public trust, which she believed would also translate into electoral gains.
Further, the meeting, attended by senior BSP office-bearers and district presidents from Uttar Pradesh, also deliberated over the party’s preparations for the upcoming bypolls.
Though the dates for by-elections to the 10 seats have not been announced, this is the BSP’s second meeting for poll preparations. The meeting focused on assessing the progress of directives issued during the party’s previous meeting on June 23, aimed at expanding BSP support base among marginalised communities.
