News Analysis India

Tag: BSP

  • Mayawati on Constitution: BJP, Congress have made Constitution casteist, communal through amendments: Mayawati

    BSP president Mayawati on Tuesday said BJP and Congress governments have made the Constitution “casteist, communal and capitalistic” to a large extent through various amendments. At a press conference here, Mayawati said both parties show copies of the Constitution inside and outside Parliament and appear to be chips of the same block.

    “Their thinking also seems to be similar and both of them have made this Constitution a casteist, communal and capitalist Constitution to a large extent through various amendments,” the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said.

    It is no longer the egalitarian and secular Constitution of Bhimrao Ambedkar, she said.

    “The way these people are playing with the Indian Constitution for political gains is not at all appropriate,” she added.

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    Mayawati also said the BJP and Congress governments did not implement the Mandal Commission report providing reservation benefits to Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

  • BSP Should Join INDIA Bloc: Akhilesh Yadav’s Request To Mayawati’s Party In 2024 Polls |

    New Delhi: Samajwadi Party leader and candidate from Kannauj Lok Sabha seat Akhilesh Yadav urged the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to join the INDIA alliance to save the constitution. As the fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls wrapped up on Monday, Yadav exaggerated that this time INDIA bloc is going to secure the victory and will surely form the government.

    “I would request the Bahujan Samaj (Party) to help the INDIA alliance to save the Constitution…The (INDIA) alliance will surely form the government,” he said.

    Yadav also hits out at the Modi-led government for discriminating against farmers, youth and businessmen for the last 10 years. He further claimed that the BJP will yearn for even 140 seats.

    “This government has discriminated against farmers, youth and businessmen for ten years. This election is to protect the Constitution… The public will make them yearn for even 140 seats,” Yadav said.

    Earlier, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and SP leader Akhilesh Yadav were forced to cut short the public meeting in Prayagraj’s Phulpur constituency on Sunday after the crowd broke the barricades. This incident created a stampede-like situation.

    After the incident, both the leaders of the INDIA Bloc left the rally without addressing the people of the Phulpur constituency. The campaign in Prayagraj was organised in support of SP candidate Amarnath Maurya contesting from the Phulpur Lok Sabha seat.

    The workers from both parties went out of control and attempted to reach the stage to get near the prominent leaders Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav. 

  • LS polls: Farmers of Lakhimpur Kheri await justice

    Amid the rising political heat, people in Tikunia area of Lakhimpur Kheri still remember the unforgettable incident that shook the country three years ago.

    Eight people including a journalist and four farmers were killed when violence broke out after an SUV ran over a group of protesting farmers in October of 2021.

    “I pass by this place everyday. We have tried a lot to forget what happened here but every time we approach this place, the images of that day flash before our eyes,” said Manjeet Singh, a resident of Tikunia pointing towards the ground where the farmers held the protest against the three controversial farm laws, which have been scrapped now. This ground lies on one side of the narrow road leading towards Tikunia, a small town located on the northern most corner of Lakhimpur Kheri district, over 215 km away from state capital Lucknow. AllUttar PradeshMaharashtraTamil NaduWest BengalBiharKarnatakaAndhra PradeshTelanganaKeralaMadhya PradeshRajasthanDelhiOther States”The ground is a constant reminder of how nothing happens to a person with political influence,” said Satwant Singh, another Tikunia resident who participated in the protest and was a witness to the incidents. Ashish Mishra ‘Monu’, the son of Union minister Ajay Mishra ‘Teni’, was made an accused in the case. Ashish Mishra was arrested after the incidents but is currently out on bail. “Ajay Mishra ‘Teni’ was awarded by the BJP for the incident. The party did nothing to him and has now given him a ticket for the Lok Sabha polls,” said Rajdeep Singh, another resident who was injured in the incident. The BJP has renominated Ajay Mishra from the Lakhimpur Kheri seat. The Samajwadi Party (SP) has fielded Utkarsh Verma and the BSP Anshay Kalra. Voting will be held on May 13.

    The 2021 incident occurred in Tikunia but almost all the victims were from different places in the district.

    Mandeep Singh, the son of an elderly farmer Nacchatar Singh who was killed after being run over by the SUV, said, “We were shown how important we are in the incident. Nobody from the government has till date asked about us. We want this to change, we want to see the accused behind bars.”

    Singh declined to comment on the ongoing elections but said he wants to see a change. “Like every other farmer and local we want to see a change.”

    Surendra Singh, a relative of another victim Lovepreet Singh and also a member of farmers union, said, “This was an attack on farmers who produce grains to feed the entire country. We will continue to fight for justice.”

    The Bhartiya Kisan Union (Tikait) unit in Lakhimpur Kheri had objected to the candidature of Ajay Mishra.

    “This is nothing but disrespect to those killed in Tikunia and all farmers. The farmers will respond to this by their votes,” said Surinder Singh Virk, an office bearer of the farmers union.

    Though farmers, especially from the Sikh community in Tikunia and nearby areas, express anger over the incident, the same emotion is not reflected by people of other communities, particularly outside Tikunia.

    “What happened in Tikunia was wrong, nobody will support such an act but we need to come together and move ahead for development of Lakhimpur,” said Prabhat Singh, a former village head in Palia area of the district.

    SP president Akhilesh Yadav has talked about the episode in his public meeting held here but his party candidate Utkarsh Verma has made only passing reference in his public meetings.

    BSP’s Kalra, who himself comes from the Sikh community, has raised the issue in his public meetings in Palia and Nighasan area.

  • BJP trying to woo BSP’s dalit vote bank in Uttar Pradesh

    BJP, which has been constantly working to expand its base among the SC voters, finds itself in an advantageous position with the waning hold of BSP, which once enjoyed considerable support among Dalits in the state. As of now, BSP has not aligned with any party for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and has decided to go solo on all 80 seats in the state.

    BJP, which won 62 seats in the 2019 LS elections in UP, is eyeing to maximise its tally in the state by crossing 70. To achieve that goal, BSP vote bank becomes crucial for the party. SCs account for 20% of the state’s population and BSP has more or less managed to hold on to this vote bank. However, in the 2022 assembly elections, BSP lost its vote share from around 19.43% in 2019 Lok Sabha to 13%.

    BJP’s internal calculation is that in the absence of any alliance, most BSP voters are looking for options and the saffron party considers itself the most suitable party.”SC community has got maximum benefits from Modi government’s schemes. The government policies are formulated keeping in mind the welfare of the SC community,” Lal Singh Arya, BJP SC Morcha president told ET. “If you look at the recent assembly elections, SCs have voted for BJP in large numbers. Now, our job is to convince SC voters that BJP should be their natural and preferred choice.”

    Starting from Ravidas Jayanti on February 23, BJP SC Morcha will kickstart ‘Basti Sampark Abhiyan’ in different parts of the state. As part of the campaign, BJP leaders will visit nearby SC areas to discuss Modi government’s welfare schemes and present a future roadmap for the development of their localities. The PM will visit Varanasi to take part in Sant Ravidas Jayanti programme on February 23.

    A national convention of BJP SC Morcha will take place in Agra in March which will be attended by BJP SC leaders, Union ministers and leaders from other states. BJP president JP Nadda will make a special address during the meeting. Agra has been chosen considering the high concentration of SC voters in West UP, where BSP performed well in last LS polls.

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  • Lok Sabha Polls: Congress demands 20 seats in Uttar Pradesh; Samajwadi Party finds it ‘unreasonable’

    Congress has sought 20 of 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh from Samajwadi Party, a demand which the regional party found ‘unreasonable’. The two parties are likely to meet again on Thursday to take talks forward, according to some leaders.

    According to people present at the second formal round of seat-sharing talks on Wednesday, Congress and SP discussed a seat-sharing formula and agreed ‘winnability’ should be the main criterion for deciding which party gets which seat. Congress won only Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat in 2019.

    A senior leader, who did not wish to be identified, told ET: “The exact number of seats were discussed. Congress has sought 20 seats. The list of seats was also discussed. Both parties have decided to meet again, and hold talks seat by seat.” There was no discussion on an alliance with BSP or RLD. A senior leader said, “RLD is Samajwadi Party’s ally. It is clear that any alliance talk of RLD will be with Samajwadi Party and not Congress.” RLD has already held talks with SP. Though Mayawati has announced that BSP would contest elections alone, Congress is keen on a grand alliance in UP because it feels that it is the only way the Opposition could give BJP a tough contest.In 2019, BJP secured 49.56% vote share, BSP 19.26%, SP 17.96% and Congress 6.31%. Though the influence of SP and BSP have declined considerably, a united Opposition could change the equation. Emerging from the meeting, senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid told journalists, “we held a good round of talks… We put forward our wish list before each other and compared the details of each seat with each other and we hope that from their side we will receive more feedback before we can reach a final discussion.” On questions regarding BSP’s inclusion, Khurshid said the leadership would handle it. He said Congress hoped that the alliance would be finalised before the Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra reaches UP.

    SP MP Ram Gopal Yadav said, “we have come halfway and will complete the entire journey soon.” UP Congress chief Ajay Rai and MLA Aradhana Mishra too joined the discussions. SP MP Javed Ali Khan, former SP MLC and a close aide of Akhilesh Yadav, Udaiveer Singh, and Ram Gopal Yadav represented SP. After the meeting with Congress, SP went into a huddle.

  • For Panthic votes, Sukhbir Singh Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) prefers Left to BJP

    With Sukhbir Singh Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) striving to regain Panthic support and unite all Akali Dal factions, Punjab-based party leaders feel the environment is not favourable for alliance with former decades-old ally BJP.

    Akali leaders believe the party would continue its alliance with BSP and may form a grand alliance by joining hands with Left parties, including CPM and CPI.

    Last month, on Akali Dal’s 103rd anniversary, Badal apologised for his government’s “administrative failures” in the 2015 sacrilege cases and urged for breakaway reunification for Panthic unity. He publicly apologised for failing to apprehend Guru Granth Sahib desecration culprits in 2015 under his tenure.Akali Dal has always highlighted Sikh issues, but after the defeat in 2022 assembly polls, Badal has been trying to reclaim panthic votes and shared the stage with hardline Sikh leaders like SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann and Sikh preacher Baljit Singh Dadduwal. Recently, Badal and the SGPC president visited the family of Late Akal Takht Jathedar Gurdev Singh Kaunke and pledged full support to them. Kaunke’s family claims six police officers killed the Sikh spiritual leader.

    Senior Akali Dal leader Balwinder Singh Bhunder believes the party would prioritise religion and agriculture (Panth te Kisani). Bhunder stated “the situation and circumstances are not conducive for alliance with BJP.” Both parties will struggle to agree ideologically, especially with the current BJP leadership.”

    He added that beside BSP there are many options for SAD, including Left parties such as CPM and CPI. The party had allied with Left parties in the past as well.SAD leader Naresh Gujral also ruled out alliance with BJP, saying, “there is no scope.”Akali Dal, the founder of NDA and BJP’s oldest ally, moved out of the ruling alliance in 2020, following the protest over the three farm laws. The laws were later taken back by the government.

  • Mayawati’s Masterstroke: BSP To Contest 2024 Lok Sabha Polls Alone |

    NEW DELHI: In a strategic move that has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, Mayawati, the influential Dalit leader and national president of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), made a big announcement on her birthday. Amidst the celebratory greetings, she declared that the BSP would go solo in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, marking a departure from previous political alliances.

    “I want to make it clear that Bahujan Samaj Party will fight Lok Sabha elections alone, won’t get into alliance with any party, ” she said.

    Alone But Unyielding: BSP’s Lone Battle in 2024

    Mayawati, known for her astute political maneuvers, chose the occasion of her birthday to unveil the party’s independent stance for the crucial parliamentary elections. The decision to contest the polls without forming alliances reflects a bold and independent approach, setting the stage for a distinctive electoral strategy.

    A Calculated Political Shift

    This move comes in the wake of speculation regarding Mayawati’s potential collaboration with the I.N.D.I.A opposition alliance. However, with this announcement, she has strategically positioned the BSP as a formidable standalone force in the electoral battleground. The decision is likely to reshape political dynamics in Uttar Pradesh and beyond.

    Mayawati’s Vision for the Future

    Mayawati’s decision carries implications not only for the BSP but also for the broader political scenario. As she charts a course for her party, it remains to be seen how this shift will influence alliances, voter dynamics, and the overall political narrative in the lead-up to the 2024 elections.

    The Unfolding Political Drama

    With Mayawati’s bold declaration, the political stage is set for a gripping narrative. The decision to go solo brings with it a sense of anticipation, leaving political pundits and citizens alike speculating about the potential impact on alliances, strategies, and the final outcome of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. As the BSP embarks on this solitary journey, the coming months promise an unfolding drama that could redefine the political landscape in Uttar Pradesh and beyond.

    Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended birthday wishes to Mayawati, the national president of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). The greetings were conveyed through social media, accompanied by a phone call expressing good health and longevity for the former Chief Minister.

    The significance of CM Yogi’s call amplifies as it coincides with Mayawati’s anticipated decision regarding joining the I.N.D.I.A opposition alliance led by the Congress. Speculations are rife about the call influencing the political landscape just ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In the volatile realm of politics, alliances are said to be ephemeral, and a phone call can redefine relationships.