The Bahujan Samaj Party’s (BSP) decision to dismiss its national coordinator, Akash Anand, has sparked speculation about the party’s relationship with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its implications for the upcoming 2024 general elections.
Anand, who holds a post-graduate degree from London, was removed from his position by BSP supremo Mayawati after being booked for violating the model poll code by using abusive language against the ruling BJP in his speeches. Party sources attributed his dismissal to his need to “mature,” but also highlighted aspects of his speeches that they deemed politically mature and not unparliamentary.
A review of Anand’s speeches reveals a pointed focus on targeting the BJP, questioning the financial prudence of their ration doles and describing them as “an opium that is being fed to 80 crore Indians.” He also criticized the BJP’s performance in providing jobs, stating that people would have earned more if the government had ensured even class IV jobs for them.
Anand’s speeches did not align with the ruling dispensation’s views, prompting the right-wing ecosystem to speculate about the source of BSP’s funding. His removal is seen as a sign of BSP’s capitulation to the BJP, which may benefit the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance. This move has left the BSP with no cover regarding its Muslim vote bank, and Jatavs are also expressing concerns. There is a perception within the community that Mayawati is playing a double game by fielding Muslim and Yadav candidates to hinder the SP’s chances while also fielding candidates who are challenging the BJP in some seats.
A look at the profiles of BSP candidates suggests a strategy to select candidates who can self-fund their campaigns and harm the prospects of both the SP and BJP depending on the competitive landscape of each seat. However, as the last round of nominations approached, the party appeared to rush in candidates who would primarily damage the SP’s chances, further fueling the “BJP’s B-team” allegations against the BSP.
Sources within the Backward and Minorities Communities Employees Federation (BAMCEF), founded by the late Kanshi Ram, indicate a shift in the party’s core vote bank toward the SP-Congress alliance in some seats that voted in the first three phases. BAMCEF members are actively working to impress upon the community that their organization can nullify the RSS’s influence, and that the BSP has not given the social organization its due recognition in the political sphere.
In seats like Agra and Bulandshahr, saving the identity of the Ambedkarite movement has emerged as a more pressing concern for the community than safeguarding reservations. However, in other seats, the priority remains on protecting reservations. BAMCEF members emphasize that the Yadav and Jatav communities, historically divided, are now united in their goal of preserving the Constitution and reservations, and that their alliance with the SP is a compromise for a common cause.
The BSP and BJP have a complex history, marked by both cooperation and conflict. In 2022, Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised Mayawati’s performance, leading to speculation. However, Mayawati’s recent decisions, including Anand’s dismissal and the change of ticket for Rajput strongman Dhananjay Singh’s wife in Jaunpur, have raised questions about the BSP’s stance toward the BJP, especially in light of Shah’s visit to Lucknow. As polling progresses towards the eastern parts of the state, the BSP’s prospects appear to be declining.
