The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) which is the third biggest political force in the state has decided not to field its candidates for the upcoming by-election in three assembly segments of state. The state unit of BSP had prepared a panel of candidates for these seats and had sent it for BSP supremo Mayawati’s approval, but she decided against contesting these elections.
The State President of BSP Nathu Singh told The Pioneer that the state unit in the panel had proposed three names for Doiwala, two for Someshwar and one name for the Dharchula. He said that the BSP Supremo has refused to give permission for contesting the BY- Elections and asked to strengthen the party organization. Singh said that the party would now focus on membership drives and would reach out to all sections of the society to broaden its base.
After the debacle in the recent lok Sabha elections Mayawati dissolved all units the party in state and gave reins of the state unit to Singh.Nathu Singh said that as per the wishes of BSP President he is going for a total revamp of Party organisation.He said that all frontal organization of party would be reconstituted soon. In response to a question Singh said that the party would not support Chief Minister Harish Rawat from Dharchula.
BSP is the third largest party in the state in terms of vote share. It got eight seats in 2007 assembly elections but was restricted to only three in the 2012 assembly elections. The party which was continuously increasing its vote share in the state as it got 6.77% votes in general elections of 2004 and impressed everyone with 15.29% vote share in the general elections of 2009 recorded its worst performance in the recent election lok Sabha elections as its vote share reduced drastically to 4.71%.
In run up to the elections the party was jolted when Social Welfare Minister Surendra Rakesh and leader of BSP legislative party Haridas revolted from party in run to the lok Sabha elections.The party has pockets of influence in the Haridwar and Nainital districts but all the efforts of the party to increase its presence in the mountainous areas of the state have failed till now.