In 2007, the upper castes helped to create the mood for a Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh; in 2012, they want to undo it.
In the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, polling for which ended on March 3, Chief Minister Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) should have been at the top of the charts. Last November, when I spent 11 days in the western part of the State, the consensus appeared to be that, despite the high levels of corruption, the BSP could get a second bash at power, albeit with significantly reduced numbers: there didn't seem to be a better alternative on the horizon. This was not just coming from Ms Mayawati's own community of Jaatavs, still solidly with her; this was also what virtually every other social group, barring the Yadavs — all rooting for Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party (SP) — was saying. Ms Mayawati's five years in power had by no means been perfect, they all said, but she had run a tighter administration than her predecessor, and controlled crime, not shying away from jailing even the politically well connected mafiosi, many of them Thakurs. Finally, she had not permitted her caste fellows the sort of free run Mr. Yadav had. Only the Brahmins, the opinion-makers — and who number 11 per cent in U.P. — said they were “waiting and watching.”
Two months later, when I returned to U.P. for 16 days, travelling this time from Saharanpur in the northwest to Varanasi in the southeast, the mood had changed completely. Now, there was visible anger — almost orchestrated — against the Mayawati regime. U.P.'s “Iron Lady” — as her ardent followers refer to her — was under siege.
As campaigning by the SP, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress picked up, disenchantment with the BSP mounted. Dead health officials, looted MGNREGS funds and the frenzy of statue-building were now taking centre stage. “Koi vikas nahin hua hai (there has been no development),” was the cry now. From the eastern districts, there seemed to be a wave in favour of the SP, with the Brahmins leading the charge to oust the BSP: the single point agenda for this influential, vocal community was to polarise votes in every constituency to ensure victory for the strongest anti-BSP candidate. With the SP the strongest non-BSP party in the fray, it began to become advantage SP.
What happened in the intervening two months? As I travelled, the sub-text to this new narrative emerged from the mouths of those most stridently anti-BSP — the upper castes.
The ‘complaints'
The burden of their complaints: farm wages had increased to a Rs.150-300 band, pushing up wage bills of landed upper castes in the east (the MGNREGS triggered the hike, but since it benefited the Dalits the most, the BSP government was held responsible for it); the State government's “no tolerance” policy for non-payment of taxes had hit the trading community, largely the Banias; “unqualified” Jaatavs, members of Ms Mayawati's community, had been appointed DGCs (District Government Counsel) in west U.P.'s district courts; and the SC/ST Atrocities Act had been “misused” against the OBCs and upper castes in the villages. It didn't matter that it wasn't just Dalits who had begun to find it easier to get FIRs registered under the Act: “Upper castes settling scores among themselves also used the Act, manipulating Dalits, working on their lands,” a Thakur landlord-turned businessman in Jaunpur explained, “to register cases against their rivals.” For the non-Dalit poor, the top gripe was that government housing for weaker sections had been given only to members of one community, the Jaatavs. No one provided any statistics to back any of these complaints, but the message was clear: in the last five years, the Jaatavs had got the most favoured status at the expense of other communities.
On the governance front, people were now being forced to pay electricity bills. For those running factories, this was an added expense; in the villages, the periodic visitations by electricity department officials were viewed with dread. Near Bijnor city, three officials, waiting for the pradhan to return and summon villagers to pay up, acknowledged it was a painful process, saying they often had to make repeated visits to collect their dues.
By unleashing anger against Ms Mayawati's government, the upper castes changed the electoral dynamics of this election. They saw educated Dalits moving up the social ladder, securing government positions denied to them earlier; they saw the lowest of the low registering complaints at the police stations against them — and they didn't like it. “In many cases, the Jaatavs may not have even got a hearing because it is not that easy to change social equations,” an IPS officer in Lucknow told me, “But they got a psychological sense of well-being.” In Baghpat, a Jat-aggressive area, Jaatavs confirmed this, saying that even under the BSP rule, they sometimes found it hard to register complaints, adding, “But if Mayawati loses these elections, they will enter our homes and beat us up.”
In short, the progress of the Jaatavs — and, to a lesser extent, the other Dalit and MBC communities — began to represent a challenge to those who have been used to wielding power. In 2007, the Brahmins, enticed by the BSP's promise of sarvajan largesse, helped to create the mood for a Mayawati government. In 2012, they want to undo it.
Who will make the gains
The Congress and the BJP, which led the verbal attack on the BSP, should have benefited from the discontent that surfaced. But the lack of organisation in the Congress and division in the BJP's ranks allowed the SP to step into this vacuum, thanks to its strong party machinery. “The Congress and the BJP are hoping to destroy Mayawati in these elections, crack her Dalit vote bank and get back into the political game for 2014,” Badar Azmi, a senior Muslim leader in Deoband, says adding, “To achieve this, they don't mind if the SP gains in this election.” Indeed, Mr. Yadav has, in a large measure, succeeded in flipping the 2007 Assembly election on its head, when Ms Mayawati successfully created public opinion against Yadav oppression. Simultaneously, the SP supremo's son, the fresh-faced Akhilesh Yadav, has helped blur the image of the SP as a party of rampaging musclemen, and dim memories of Mulayam Singh Yadav's “goondaraj.”
Simultaneously, for the Muslims flocking towards the SP, it is not just about the Urdu teachers and policemen that Mr. Yadav recruited or the meat export businesses of the prosperous Quereshis he promoted during his last tenure as Chief Minister; it is also about the sense of security that he provided to the community. If the Jaatavs got a hearing at the police stations in the last five years, Muslims had that advantage under the SP rule. At a time when Muslim young men are vulnerable to being picked up on terrorism charges, this is a plus point.
But the caste churning that is continuing has also meant that divisions in the Muslim community on caste lines have come to the fore. With a majority of Muslim legislators tending to be “upper caste,” the Peace Party, for instance, is carrying the torch for the pasmandas, the OBCs in the community. Such parties will cut into the SP's Muslim vote, even if marginally, making an accurate prediction of seats that much harder, even if the general trends are clear. The SP, the BJP and the Congress — in that order — will make gains; the BSP will register losses.
The BJP surprise
The big surprise in these elections is likely to come from the BJP, divided and demoralised though it is: in Bundelkhand, the OBC factor, thanks to firebrand Uma Bharati and the party's staunch support of OBC reservation, could help it. Similarly, in the Muslim dominated constituencies of west U.P., a “silent polarisation” was visible. There was no communal rhetoric but the large number of Muslim candidates, fielded not just by the SP and the BSP (both of whom have nominated over 80 each) and also new parties such as the Mahan Dal, were triggering off another kind of resentment. In Bulandshahr, a Brahmin lawyer, when asked about the fate of the constituencies in his district, said sourly, “Four Muslims, two Hindus.”
These elections are, therefore, about governance and development, but not in the way the Congress' Rahul Gandhi has framed it — as a caste-neutral, if not religion-neutral, promise of benefits for everyone. Rather, they are about governance and development, but viewed through the prism of caste and religion.
smita.g@thehindu.co.in
Keywords: Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Mayawati, BSP, caste politics
The people of India, in their abiding wisdom, expelled a woman who sent airplanes to collect her slippers, built statues of herself & her friends, and stole Billions from the public purse.
This is another kind of Blame game on Upper Caste,I think this type of articles are provoking the people more on caste and religion lines! better to stop these type of religion/caste based articles (so called practical?)
The results of the assembly elections are depressing to say the least. And I say this not because I owe a strong allegiance to the BSP or Mayawati for that matter (synonymous anyhow!) rather it's because I have a lack thereof for any other party. Be it BSP or the SP the scenario would not change by much. The end result will invariably be an administration ruled by illiterates. I strongly feel that a Congress government in the state could have proved of immense benefit especially because of its presence at the Centre. Also, it would have brought a breath of fresh air in the State politics.
Having reading every word (I studied in UP and i can understand some social aspects of traditionally affluent caste and non affluent caste) - It seems 89% of the people still didn't exercise their own understanding and requirements. It appears people are not happy with strict rule of Mayawati - which was good in many ways (corruption free and ram rajya is just a hallucination and none is going to bring it immediately). Mayawati is an able CM and administrator. Anyway, single party Governance should not create issue of coalition dharma. Lets hope UP progresses and SP leaders have learnt to earn name and prestige along with Money except ONLY money. Hope they wish to govern a rich and talented people rather than easily manipulable (11% influenced 89%).
To begin with, I would like to mention the second failed attempt of Rahul Gandhi dealing with the North Indians. Be it Bihar or the largest state in the country, Congress should know the fact that if they cannot seize their reputation at the centre, no one is going to pay attention to them at the granular level. I have personally known people telling me about the ill measures taken up by the newest face of the Gandhi-Nehru family just to bring pain and poverty into the picture. Deciding the clothing of the front lined audience will not decide the robe of a state for sure. So, Mr. Rahul, try harder next time, but with substance and not hypocrisy.
Good read but less credible. The caste conflict seemed more imaginary than real. Looks like someone providing a saving face to Mayawati to explain away the looming defeat. Fact is if Mayawati had setup factories etc 100% reserved for Jaatavs, it wouls have still help the entire state indirectly and people would not have the feeling that no development took place. Mayawati is paying for her arrogance and self-delusion. Blaming Jaatavs, Brahmins, Jats etc is sheer nonsense.
This caste-racist language and mindset of these mediawalas must change. Calling some Indians "Upper Caste" and some other Indians "Lower Caste" must be banned by law; as it is a gross insult to Indians to be called "low caste", meaning they are "lower" to certain other Indians by birth. Even foreigners think that all Indians are born equal. The language in the Indian media first should change as happened in South Africa and UK if not US where the White racist lanuage still persists in their press.
The article seems well researched. But there are some points that aren't clear:
1) did all 11 percent brahmins the author speaks of vote for Mayawati, if not how many did? This is significant information because it will decide what the vote swing was and how true the impact stated in the article above is.
2) Was Mayawati not able to manage the media at all, because if she was such a 'developer', why wasn't there a single media report in other parts of india about her doing well? Nitish Kumar is in news for positive reasons day in day out.
Nothing against Mayawati, but she didn't really do a good job, and that is why she will be out. Statistics will tell you that the number of dalit voters in UP is enough to get her to a strong position. So if they havent all voted for her, its probably because she didn't deliver development for them.
In short - The upper classes are to blame. Poor upper class people can't catch a break - damned if they vote for Mayawati, Damned they don't. In the author's brilliant analysis only the upper classes not voting for Mayawati is the SOLE cause for Mayawati supposedly loss in election (incidentally the actual election result is not public yet).
Her grotesque statues (not personally but idea behind putting up ones own statues) and parks, the complete lack of infrastructure, the bad shape of roads, her demands to be treated royally, her corruption, her replacing half the cabinet just before the election have nothing to do with her soon to be lost election, It is only the caste factor.
we rail and scream about casteism and we have this brilliant author reducing the entire election analysis to just caste. Its no wonder castism won't be gone anytime soon. Its helps politicians with votes and helps journalists and activists to further their ideological agenda.
By sustained campaigning against her in devious ways,it would seem, that the Indian media has done Dalit leader in. Here there is something the Indian democrcy has to worry about.
Well in UP if the development is looked through the prism of caste and religion than the issue will be to change the perception. The standing of any government depends upon the quality of development done in that state. For example Gujarat, Bihar. Both these state register fairly healthy growth rates and the onus clearly depends on the development work .People of UP need to realize that for a better tomorrow you need to make constructive decision which should not be based on caste and religion.
Hopefully the party coming in power does that and remove that prism of caste and religion and replace it by the equation of development.
Having observed both BSP and SP governments i can say mayawati
government was way better than that of mulayam.The only drawback was
there was a lot of corruption.But on several other fronts like
development ,controlling crime,womens rights she was a lot better.I
wonder what made people so angry with mayawati.Probably it might have
been the statues.They were universally reviled.Moreover the SC/ST
atrocities act was grossly misused in many rural areas.Mayawati remained aloof from her electorate although the five years and
increased awareness on corruption fueled by anna hazare and ramdev
movements took a toll on BSP.But i am stunned people choose a goons
party like SP over relatively better off BJP and congress
As someone originally from U.P., I fear that there is likely to be no change, no
matter who wins. Let's see what the parties have to offer:
Congress: more of the Gandhi dynasty which has offered India nothing in 60 years
BJP: A few more Ram Mandirs and thousands of riot victims in all likelihood
SP: Goondaraj
BSP: More statues of Mayawati
Note that all parties offer us a "Goondaraj" of some kind although the SP has
nothing else to offer.
So, while the rest of India makes some progress however jerkily and slowly, U.P.
remains true to its name "Ulta Pradesh".
More than BSP, I think INC will be the greatest loser if the exit polls will come true.(I hope this is not the case). INC was the only party to offer development and without ranting caste or religious boogey. If Rahul fails this will be disastrous not only for Congress, but also lead the Senior congressment (fully currupt) to strenghthen themselves at his expense or by bringing another scape goat in form of Priyanka, so that they can do whatever they want.
It is ironical to see a reader with highest academic credentials, (but yet with a Caste surname!) laments that constitution has not fully outlawed caste as a social criterion. If a citizen flaunts his caste as a surname or family name, constitution cannot do anything calling it as a freedom of expression. So caste will remain and be used every where possible, by everybody in a small way or big way, be it in the temples, names, associations etc. Politics is the mirror of the society and so will be its caste fundamentals. I don't see any salvation for this Caste-ist Country of 1 billion tribals who get divided by birth, calling themselves as civilized people.
What you sow is what you reap. A caste-ist country will get what it deserves. @jahnavi is right. Even at her worst, the Iron Lady has brought some self confidence in to her vote bank or caste. Like in tamil nadu, elites will join hands to throw out that caste which threatens them. Even God cannot save this caste ridden country. Right from birth, temples, schools, jobs, marriage and to death, it the caste which decides the destiny. Caste proponents will shout if their power is threatened and taken by another down under. Shameless people and "their holier than thou" mindset. Caste-ism is Worser than racism.
Definitely its a thoroughly researched article. As pointed out, the
biggest problem in UP are that people want development and perks
without being free of corruption and prejudices.
Mayawati on the other hand was herself responsible to let the good
work overshadowed by her crazy interest in statue building. If there
is a dip of 5% as speculated by Yogendra Yadav( even before exit
polls) in BSP's vote bank across UP, atleast 1-2% would be because a
lot of people who vote sensibly were not with BSP this time.
A dip of around 3% would not have hurt BSP that much despite the anti-
incumbency factor coupled with the wave propagated against BSP in last
two months. However, Maya was not able to sell her own achievements,
which she could have learnt obviously from Nitish Kumar.
If California is the largest state in USA, UP is more like a nation with its huge and growing population - growing increasingly poor and derelict because of current system of governance based on caste!
I thought Constitution outlawed caste, as a social criterion, in Indian politics.
However it seems UP election is fundamentally about Dalits and their place in Indian society, as India grows as an emerging economic/political power globally.
Why just blame Congress for corruption. The corruption & nepotism in BJP and ruling BSP is deep rooted and prove they are no less than Congress. BJP played the communal card, whereas the other parties tried to woo the minorities. Above all, the funds wasted on BSP leaders statues and their party symbol is sheer crime and ramains as the zenith of corruption in Indian history.
Half of the Uttar Pradesh doesn't have proper roads, electricity, and schools. If only these funds were spent on above requirements, Mayawati would have gone in a long way to be remembered. But it seems as the saying goes, downfall for Mayawati came with the extravagance and incapable governance. Will the mandate ever learn not to vote dancers and paramours.
For other parties, losing an election would be only hurting ego,etc but for the dalits(BSP), it could mean loss of dignified life. Swami Vivekananda said " the lower-castes, the downtrodden don't have friends."
Seems the statement still holds true even after India achieved independence and even after 60 years of independence. I fervently hope that the Dalits and others continue to live with self-respect and dignity and would bring out any atrocities committed against them to the light of the progressive media -- the situation demands unity and courage to expose the oppressors' acts to the whole world.
The phrase "11 percent Brhaman vote" is not going to be significant threat to Maya's electorate, because the Brahman vote to BSP in 2007 was not significant. Caste collective of BJP, SP and Congress are angry with Mayawati for she did something better to SC people for the first time in the history of Indian State politics. The hatred politics against Mayawati and her party BSP is the real hatred that the whole caste-ridden UP shows on nearly a one fourth of UP population and rest of oppressed communities in the sub-continent.
If exit polls are to believe at all there are two major changes that are likely compared to 2007 elections
1.Extraordinary loss in offing for BEHANJI and
2.Exhilarating gain in making for NETAJI.
The mandate of 2007 was not only a success of BEHANJI but in fact was a story of trnsformation of "Dalit Lady" in to "Iron Lady". But robust electoral gain in 2007 saw the "Elephant" go maveric. IRON LADY rode the elephant for five yars which survived on "NRHM" and fodder extracted out of corruption. Riding on elephant our BEHANJI offered disoriented doles to JAATAVAS but rode others as pointed out in article. The maveric elephant crushed many health officials in its way to parks in Lucknow and Noida. These five years saw "IRON LAdY" turning into "STONE LADY". Taking in reckoning the govrernment funds spoiled in erecting stone "Elephants" and "Stony Behanji" isn't the adjective most suitable after election in 2012?
If people are angry at the government for forcing them to pay taxes and EB bills,nobody can think of developing uttar pradesh. In TN majority of people pay their bills properly. So it does make sense for people here to ask for development and 24X7 power supply. But with the above said mindset of people in UP, they can't expect anything from any government.
This article seemed to be a very researched one and the anthers personal interaction with the people in the constituencies brings out the feelings and the core issues in the UP elections. What I believe that BJP & SP are the perfect beneficiaries in the election compared to the INC & BSP.
Papper religious interests; invigorate caste sentiments, encourage lawlessness; defy rule of law, offer the moon through rehtoric speeches, you have a chance to win election in UP. No reasonable or logic approach to problems and issues has nothing to do with.
I would start of by saying this is a well researched article with quality content. However somehow I wonder why Mayawati is persecuted and tormented with ill will no matter what she does.To a large extent I would blame our casteist media and people with a similar mentiality. The case at hand UP is very simple: the Brahmins , Thakkurs (the greatest proponents of oppression towards lower castes) & other upper castes who for hundreds of years have weilded power are unable to digest the fact that the Dalits are actually gaining power and are no longer under their will & mercy. Yes I agree Mayawati's administration has faltered at times but so has everyother government! Arent we tired of dynasty politics where no one without pedigree is given a chance ? Arent we tired of a Rahul Gandhi or an Akilesh Yadav or a Kanimozhi or Scahin Pilot or Jyothiraditya Scindia ? I believe Mayawati being a Dalit and a woman is a monument to electoral politics in India and also the face of a changing India.
The media is in for a surprise verdict. Higher turnout will help BSP under Ms. Mayavathi , and also BJP. All these pre-poll predictions are just wishful thinking.
Mayawati is involved in blatant corruption. Mulayam is a representative
of the goons. Congress is dependent completely on the magic of Rahul
which he always fails to show.And, BJP is riddled with infighting and
power hungry politicians. God save UP.
This article gives a completely different view point on the working of Mayawati Government in UP in last 5 years. If regular payment of electricity bills, easier filing of FIR by dalits etc has led to the change of fortunes of Mayawati government then nothing much could be done about UP state in near future.
The people need development and get rid of corruption, but they do not want to pay taxes and electricity bills! They need to get prosperous, but they cannot be without corrupt leaders! They speak of equality and safety for all its communities, but is still divided on the caste lines! We all want to save UP, but are killing it instead with this confused and complicated mentality! India goes up if UP goes up!
If all the points mentioned in this article are true, then it would be
so sad to see Mayawati lose because she did good for the state. This
would be a blow to the Democracy itself, to oust someone out of power
just because they are doing their duty correctly.
The point made by the author about upper caste resentment against
assertiveness of backward castes proves a simple point that the
privileged sections always collude to maintain status quo and to throw
out any new challengers to their positions. There are numerous
examples from across the globe and throughout history to corroborate
this.
We should not read too much into the exit poll result. Even in U.P. and several other states these have proved to be wrong. Lets wait and watch for the election results to come. Its true that the corrupt and coarse practices of Mayawati may have forced people, and specially the upper caste to think otherwise but in comparison to her the other options available to people of U.P. are equally worse.
Its been long election duration for the biggest state and majority in
Indian democracy.Let's see who wins the race and wears the crown of the
future PM of the largest democracy.
It is surprising to read that Mayawati actually did some good, although nowhere near the potential. She provided hardly any industry or infrastructure other than raising statues of herself and Dalit leaders. How come she didn't learn a lesson or two from the good work of Nitish Kumar next door! Anyway, UP looks like will be a mess for the foreseeable future with SP in power.
Rahul Gandhi cannot explain what his party did for 40 years.Sonia
Gandhi has gone into hiding to save her face. After Bihar this is the next
eye-opener for Rahul Gandhi. What he has to realise is that
people are just FED UP with the Congress and it's corruption.
Sir,
If people do not want to pay electricity bills and angry against Mrs.Mayavati for collecting the dues,I am afraid nobody can save U.P.
Does it means Mr.Mulayam Singh will allow every one not to pay taxes?
The article seems to insinuate through well researched statistics that 11% brahmins changed the outcome of this election in 3 months against Mayawati's 'pro-development' regime by plotting some polarisation wave. This is like Karunanidhi saying that he was defeated in elections by a handful of elite upper caste men in the last elections in TN. The problem with power in our country is arrogance. Mayawati led a goonda raj filled with corruption,bad governance and paid a price for the same. It's as simple as that.
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