Mayawati's Celebration Over Minor Victory in Rajasthan Civic Polls
Once a dominant political force in India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, former four-time Chief Minister Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is currently facing an existential crisis. With its political footprint shrinking across multiple states and its traditional base eroding even in UP, the party is desperately fighting to retain its national party status. Every small electoral gain is now being projected as a major morale booster by the party leadership.
A glaring example of this was recently witnessed during the municipal elections in Rajasthan, where polls were held across 3,09 wards. While the Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as the single largest party winning 4,179 seats, and the Congress secured 3,613 seats, the BSP managed to win a meager 19 seats. Surprisingly, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), despite its dwindling national presence, managed to win 38 seats—double that of the BSP.
Despite this dismal performance, BSP supremo Mayawati took to social media platform X to celebrate the victory of 19 councillors and congratulate party workers. Political analysts suggest this was a desperate attempt by the leadership to keep the demoralized cadre motivated and prevent total political isolation.
The Battle to Save National Party Status
The decline of the BSP has been steady and steep over the past decade. Founded decades ago by Kanshi Ram, the party attained national party status in 1996 with the iconic elephant symbol. During its golden era between 2010 and 2012, following a historic full-majority win in Uttar Pradesh, the BSP had 18 MPs in the Rajya Sabha. Today, the party does not have a single MLA in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly.
Whether in parliamentary or assembly elections, the party's seat share and vote percentage have witnessed a continuous downslide. From commanding a solid 22 to 25 percent vote share between 2007 and 2012, the BSP's vote share in UP has plummeted to a mere 9 to 10 percent. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the party's national vote share dropped to around two percent, raising questions about whether it even qualifies to retain its national party tag.
Internal Feuds and Family Turmoil
A major catalyst behind the BSP's downfall is internal friction and controversial decisions made by the party leadership. The frequent elevation and subsequent expulsion of family members and senior leaders have created deep divisions within the organization. The handling of Akash Anand, who was once anointed as Mayawati's political successor before being abruptly stripped of his posts and later reinstated, caused significant turbulence within the party ranks.
Further deepening the internal crisis, subsequent attempts to reorganize leadership roles among younger family members were rolled back almost as quickly as they were announced. These recurring domestic and organizational disputes have created an environment of uncertainty and alienation among dedicated party workers.
Exodus of Trusted Leaders and Cadre Alienation
Critics argue that Mayawati's zero-tolerance approach toward internal dissent—often resulting in immediate expulsions rather than dialogue—has alienated numerous veteran leaders. Many prominent figures who once formed the backbone of the BSP's mass mobilization have migrated to rival parties like the Samajwadi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party, where they now hold influential legislative and ministerial positions.
As these trusted leaders shifted loyalties, their core supporters followed suit, dealing crippling blows to the BSP's grassroots machinery. With crucial assembly elections approaching, the party faces a monumental task in resurrecting its foundational ideology and winning back the trust of the marginalized communities it once proudly represented.
