The expulsion of former State president Nathu Singh from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has further highlighted the churning the third largest party of the State is undergoing ever since the Haridwar strongman and two-time former MlA Mohammad Shahzad returned to party’s fold after a gap of three years. Party had earlier expelled another former president CP Singh to pave the way for entry of Shahzad.
When contacted the State President of party, Satish Kumar told The Pioneer the decision to expel Nathu Singh was taken by the party high command. “I received a phone call from the party head office and I acted as per the wishes of the top party leadership,” said Satish Kumar.
The State President however refused to comment anything on the impact the expulsion of Sigh would have on the electoral prospects of the party in the state. Kumar said that the immediate aim of the party is to ensure victory of its members in the soon to be held three tier Panchayat elections in Haridwar district. The Haridwar district holds the key to the success of party in Uttarakhand from where it won all its three seats in last assembly elections. In Haridwar the Muslim and Dalits constitute 45 percent of total electorate and party holds considerable influence on these sections.
The outcome of the Panchayat election would also be test for Shahzad and would determine future course of party’s politics in the state. The vote share of the party is on declining trend in Uttarakhand as it recorded its worst performance in the lok Sabha elections last year with a vote share of mere 4.71 percent.
The party had got 6.77 percent votes in the lok Sabha elections of 2004 and impressed everyone with 15.2 percent vote share in the general elections of 2009.