Time Ripe for Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to take a Centre Stage


Loss of Congress is a gain of BSP. At least that was so till recently. Why can’t it be regular and at the national level with Congress losing everywhere? Sounds ridiculous? Yes, perhaps. But shouldn’t Mayawati and all the Ambedkarite intellectuals ponder over this? Isn’t it an opportunity worth exploring? After all, BSP is the third largest political party after BJP and Congress in terms of share of votes!

BSP tried to grow only organically unlike BJP which is not shy of poaching and co-opting local leaders of any hue to gain power. BJP even played second fiddle to smaller regional parties and their leaders to remain in power, take the example of J&K, Meghalaya or earlier Maharashtra. BSP, on the other hand, has been shy of growing with leaders brought up in different cultures. It may be a right approach to maintain the purity of ideology.

But pure ideology can lead you to power only if it also spreads broad and wide with strong organizational structure. BSP has that structure in place at grassroots levels but without formal leaders. It is rudderless at local levels. There is no dearth of young activists believing in Ambedkar in any region of the country. They are there. Doing their bit, waiting for leadership to lead them. Mayawati and her limited-edition associates cannot reach out to all of them, physically or intellectually. Mayawati should try to co-opt established local leaders believing in its ideology but left out in the lurch for any reason by whatever party and give them chance to grow and prove themselves with BSP’s brand value and ideology.

It is simple, said than done. Who will join her? And why would anyone join her? That is for her party to answer. But if Congress is losing, BSP must gain. Why the Dalit, Muslim and other Bahujan votes should go to BJP or Communists? BSP should ensure that it is seen everywhere with its own flag and symbol or together with the local/regional party, the way it is doing in UP with SP, afresh. It should leave aside its immediate aspirations of so-called ‘respectable share of seats’. These things should not come into her way of forging alliances for long-term survival. That is what BJP did in the past.

If anything, only BSP’s ideology can challenge decisively BJP’s ideology. Congress was ruling hitherto with BJP’s ideology coupled with BSP’s vote bank. It was subtle subterfuge. That illusion is gone. Everything is out in the open now. It is all about Ambedkar vs Golwalkar.

BJP will not be shy of usurping Ambedkar on its way of total takeover only to dump him at the doors of Golwalkar. If it is allowed to happen for personal short-sightedness and personal ego, that will be the greatest betrayal to Ambedkar. It is for anybody to see that more and more communities are gravitating towards Ambedkar. The proof, if at all needed, is the latest incident on 1st January 2018 at Bhima-Koregaon in Maharashtra. What was a symbol of Mahar pride till last year is now suddenly seen as a symbol of pride for all marginalised people of the country. Ambedkar stands there as a solid rock pillar.

BSP, the only party worth the name, has the cardinal responsibility to keep the churning on, to consolidate the energy of Ambedkar’s people and prevent it getting scattered. It should jump into the fray as a big brother (rather as an elder sister) to play a crucial role to offer the credible alternative to the BJP. It may sound like a far-fetched imagination. But with ever relevant Ambedkar on its side, things should not be that difficult in a little longer run.

Author – Harishchandra Sukhdeve

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3 Comments

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  1. 1
    DrLaxmi Berwa

    Well written piece.BSP lost very valuable time in the interim.We need Institution along with hero and heroin , but who is going last long.Will the institution die with the death of the hero?Please study RSS history and may be to learn a thing or two, if that help to propagate and enhance Dr.Ambedkar’s mission. Learning from your enemy is not a taboo.In a war room, the strategist makes every attempt to know as much information as possible on the enemy.I hope that the institutions don’t die with the death of the hero, that is why BSP MUST develop a culture of developing a long term plan/institution and nurture it otherwise it will die like a plant die deprived of water, fertilizer and sun.
    Will Bahnji develop long term Institution rather than just create a cult culture? Of course time will tell.

    • 2
      Er Dileep Ambade

      Dr Laxmi you have narrated truth in the larger interest of Bahujan but how to convince it to bahanji is big problem,she had stopped almost all activities of hon Kashiramji and result we r finding a downfall of the strong political bsp party.This is not in the interest of bahujan.so Ambedkarite intellectual of India must come together and invite bahanji and compell her for institution.or you may have lead to talk with her.

  2. 3
    K.Somasundaram

    Yes. I agree with you. Only BSP can do this . I wish that BSP organises a CONFEDERATION OF DALIT ELECTORS ( C.D.E.) on ALL INDIA BASIS. Let all the state level parties espousing the cause of Dalits come together under one umbrella , contest all reserved seats for Parliament & Assembly elections soliciting the support of the threatened and marginalised minority communities – Muslims & Christians – and at the same time unilaterally extending the support of Dalits to all the Muslim & Christian candidates – other than those nominated by the Congress and the BJP. Our Mr.Thirumavalavan of Tamil Nadu and Mr.Jignesh Mevani of Gujarat can play a major role in this direction. Since I do not have the email ids of Miss Mayawati, Thirumavalavan and Mr.Jignesh Mevani , I am not able to reach them with this idea. However , I strongly believe that this communication / coversation in VELIVADA will definitely reach them and they will initiate further steps. Our beloved leader Dr.Ambedkar has laid the foundation. And this is for our generation to build our nation of SOCIAL JUSTICE.

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