Mayawati, the BSP supremo is touring all corners of the country to expand her party’s base. The resounding success of her social engineering in Uttar Pradesh has emboldened the blue political elephants to try the same elsewhere. There is in an upward swing of votes in its favour. The recent elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh have demonstrated that the time for third force at the all India level has come. The Congress party being a pan Indian one stands decimated today. Virtually wiped out in the largest state of Uttar Pradesh, no base on its own in Tamil Nadu, Bihar and West Bengal, the scope of single party governance has been pushed to a distant dream. The BJP is surviving with consolatory victories. After getting washed out in U.P, its house is in shambles. Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan units of the saffron party seems to be heading towards total collapse in this year’s assembly elections. The Left parties are under shaky wicket. With Kerala and West Bengal exhibiting anti-incumbency wave there is a possibility of receiving serious setbacks in these states.
The alarm bells have started ringing for the Congress. With the balkanization of its vote bank and total dependence on the regional allies, the grand old party was never so shattered. Parties like BSP which is extending its reach are a clear worry for the Congress. In H.P, the BSP has increased its vote share from 0.3% to 7%. Although it won only one seat, it wreaked havoc on Congress candidates in nearly 12 constituencies which were crucial. In Gujarat, its share went up from 0.32 to 2.64 with no seats in its victory kitty.
Yesterday Mayawati announced separate Telagana if BSP is voted to power in the souther state of Andra Pradesh. Despite leaders expressing caution about the growth of BSP outside U.P, its methods have sent shockwaves to Congress. The traditional voters of the GoP like dalits, tribals and minorities are being pulled away. These will tilt the victory in favour of either non Congress parties or BJP. In the near future, BSP may not successful at the all India level but can devastate the so called secular vote banks. The signals are very clear for Congress and its allies in this connection.
Franchised vote catching
A careful look at the BSP model of success in U.P and Delhi’s Municipal elections show that the ground working was left to the cadres. It was like the Mc Donald’s model of franchising. The cadres and politically passionate people used her flag and images to win the disgruntled dalit votes. Mixed with backward class voters and minorities it proved to be a deadly combo. It was like the franchising model of success in politics. The chief travelled only few kilometers and addressed lesser public meetings. Without a party manifesto and paraphernalia, Mayawati was able to secure a mammoth victory due to her secret execution of strategies.
Silent think-tank
Mayawati has got a silent yet solid team of advisors who are efficient in apt strategy making. Her team is a mix of bureaucrats, journalists, academicians, businessmen and politicians. They use simple networking techniques to create an India wave in her favour. There would not be any surprise if they pull big victories in some states. Madhya Pradesh may prove to be a biggest chunk of vote catching in this year. It may not be good in terms of seats but the vote share will share be shocking for Congress. The BSP think-tank was successful in deflecting public attention from its strategies and successfully executed its victory formula.
Congress should take note of these alterations immediately. Without lending its mind to the growing reality, it supported her in its growth till last week. Violating the Supreme Court verdict, the UPA government went all out the way to allocate two bungalows in Lutyen’s Delhi for BSP. This was done as favour for BSP’s support for Prathiba Patill in the presidential elections. Now it boomerangs beyond the politically irrelevant presidential election and threatens to destroy Congress in its roots.
When Mayawati accused the conspiracies of Congressmen to eliminate her and BSP’s cut in Congress vote share in the recent assembly elections Congress got the red alert. Although it is late, practical thinking and execution can alter the political tide in favour of the oldest party in the country. Otherwise it will be doomed forever.
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