http://timesofindia
Return to Dalit agenda revives BSP's fortunes
Ashish Tripathi, TNN 11 November 2009, 03:24am IST
LUCKNOW: Chief minister Mayawati might have failed in realising her
pan-India dream but the BSP juggernaut seems unstoppable in UP. After
lapping up
three out of four assembly seats in the byelections in August this
year, the Bahujan Samaj Party has now swept the latest round by
winning nine out of 11 seats. A jubilant Maya took the opportunity to
declare that the `victory' was people's befitting reply to those who
prevented `Dalit ki beti' from becoming the prime minister.
Jubilations started in the BSP office since morning as the trends
started pouring in. It was in sharp contrast to the gloom prevailing
after BSP could not score in the Maharashtra and Haryana assembly
elections last month. Later, Maya thanked the people and gave credit
to her `Sarvjan Hitay' policy for the victory. However, party insiders
said, and as it was reported by the TOI on September 12, the credit
for BSP's success goes to the change in strategy by Mayawati.
After a poor show in Lok Sabha polls in May this year, Maya not only
reverted to her Dalit agenda but also adopted her old style of
election campaigning. Instead of high profile canvassing by big
leaders flying in choppers all over the state, the BSP relied more on
extensive ground level mobilisation of voters by the cadre through the
booth level committees. Besides, Maya introduced reservation for
Dalits in allotment of government contracts and in private technical
colleges.
The moves have shown results, with BSP winning 12 out of 15 seats in
the two bypolls since August. BSP while retaining Lalitpur and Rari,
snatched seven assembly seats from the rival parties. Meanwhile,
sources said that all those leaders who worked hard in the bypolls are
likely to be awarded with ministerial posts. They will include BSP
state president Swami Prasad Maurya, who had to quit state cabinet
after losing two successive elections. But now, he has won from
Padrauna.
Barthana seat was vacated by SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav after being
elected to the Parliament. BSP's Shiv Prasad Yadav had lost to Mulayam
in Barthana in 2007 assembly polls but in bypolls he defeated SP. Maya
had fielded SP turncoats -- Mahendra Singh, Dasrath Prasad and Chandra
Bhadra Singh -- Etawah, Hainsar Bazaar and Issauli respectively. The
three had won from the same seats in 2007 as SP candidates but had
crossed over to the BSP during the Lok Sabha polls.
In Lalitpur, BSP's Suman Devi has won. She is widow of Nathu Ram who
was elected in 2007 from the same seat. BSP's Kailash Sahu won in
Jhansi with a razor thin margin of nine votes defeating independent
candidate Dam Dam Maharaj. Rajdev Singh, father of
mafia-turned-
in Rari. Dhananjay has been MLA from Rari twice before he was elected
MP.
Regarding defeat in Lucknow West and Kolasala, Mayawati said that BSP
got good vote share at both the places but lost because opposition
parties joined hands to defeat her candidates. On Congress victory in
Firozabad Lok Sabha byelection, Maya said it was an outcome of
people's anger against Mulayam's parivar vaad.
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