Mayawati hoping time-tested formula of wooing Brahmin dalits, Muslims helps BSP win UP polls
The BSP chief's first list of 100 candidates released today contains a list of 34 Muslims. It seems to be aimed at garnering votes on caste and religious grounds.
As stakes are high for Mayawati in the forthcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, especially after the Bahujan Samaj Party's rout in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the party chief is relying on the time-tested formula of a rainbow coalition of Brahmin dalits and Muslims. With the turf war in the ruling Samajwadi Party refusing to subside, Mayawati's hopes of regaining her lost ground have got a boost.
On Tuesday, defying the Supreme Court judgment, she had announced the exact break-up of her list of 403 candidates on caste and religious grounds. She had indicated that her list was ready and once the model code of conduct was enforced, she would announce the names.
True to her promise, the BSP chief on Thursday announced the party's first list of 100 candidates. The list released today contains a list of 34 Muslims, seems to be aimed at garnering votes on caste and religious grounds. Mayawati had proudly proclaimed earlier that she had given tickets to 87 dalits, 97 Muslims, 106 other backward castes and 113 to the upper caste candidates, including 66 to Brahmins.
- Mayawati is possibly considering the fact that there may be a tectonic shift in the minority vote post the infighting within the Samajwadi Party. The BSP is hoping to cash in on this split in the minority vote thanks to the SP's Pari-War.
- Time and again Mayawati has alleged that the BJP and the SP are two sides of the same coin and have struck a secret understanding. She has urged all minority sections to shift towards the BSP.
- It will be unreasonable to assume that all sections of minorities will vote in favour of the BSP. What looks more likely is a split in the minority vote. This may turn out to be a setback for Mayawati.
- Giving 66 tickets to Brahmins is no guarantee that they will all side with the BSP. What is worse for Mayawati is the fact that some of her aides have switched over to the BJP in the last few months, something that could seriously undermine her prospects.
- Meanwhile, by emphasising on the issue of development and by drifting away from the old guard in the Samajwadi Party, Akhilesh Yadav may succeed in curbing the anti-incumbency factor to a great extent.
- With the overwhelming support that Akhilesh enjoys from his party legislators, the next big step might be an SP-Congress alliance. In this were to happen, Mayawati's dream of consolidating the minority vote in favour of the BSP will be shattered.
- The Opposition, despite raking up issues such as demonetisation and sufferings of the common man, has failed to make them a rallying point against the government.
- On the contrary, the issue seems to be working in favor of the BJP if India Today poll survey findings are to be believed. However, the BSP can be a cause of worry for the BJP and the SP if the rainbow caste combination works in the favour of Mayawati.