June 13th 2024.
The recent Lok Sabha elections have caused quite a stir in the political sphere, especially for Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President Mayawati. Despite her party's unexpected defeat, it is the rise of Chandra Shekhar Aazad from the Azad Samaj Party that has caught her attention. Aazad was able to secure a significant victory in the Nagina reserved Lok Sabha seat, even with tough competition from BJP, BSP, and SP candidates.
Sources reveal that Mayawati is feeling threatened by Aazad's success, as it poses a direct challenge to her leadership among Dalits. In another constituency, the BSP's candidate Amarjeet Singh also faced defeat, ranking third with 81,000 votes. This further added to Mayawati's concerns, as her party ranked fourth in both constituencies.
To counter Aazad's increasing popularity, Mayawati is now considering "relaunching" her nephew, Akash Anand. Initially, she had withdrawn him from the election campaign, claiming he lacked maturity. But, with his fiery speeches and ability to attract large crowds, especially among the youth, Mayawati sees him as a potential rival to Aazad. However, it remains to be seen if she will give him enough freedom to challenge Aazad's influence.
Interestingly, the BSP's failure to secure a single seat in the Lok Sabha elections has damaged its reputation as the voice of Dalits. In the previous election, the party had won two reserved seats and was the runner-up in eight. However, this time, it faced defeat in most seats, with the Samajwadi Party snatching the Lalganj seat, which the BSP had been winning since 2009.
Sources also highlight Mayawati's struggle in reviving the BSP, as the party lacks a strong second-rung Dalit leadership that can connect with voters. This is compounded by the fact that Mayawati has trust issues and is unwilling to delegate responsibilities, even to her own nephew. Now, with the challenge posed by Aazad, she must make a decision soon.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
