‘BSP will do a U.P. in Bihar'

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BSP Supremo Mayawati receives a mement during party's Eastern Zone rally , in Patna on 15/06/2010. Photo:Ranjeet_Kumar

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati on Tuesday gave a clarion call for creation of a Samatamulak Samaj (egalitarian society).

Addressing a zonal meet here of party workers from Orissa, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar, she said the BSP would “soon convert Bihar into Uttar Pradesh” by emerging as the leading party of the State.

Ms. Mayawati issued to party workers “strategic” poll dictums — each of which was repeated thrice — aimed at strengthening grass-roots activity in these States.

With an eye on the Assembly polls in Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal, she directed that party cadre meetings henceforth be not held in open spaces (The idea is to prevent party information leaking out).

Recruitment of BSP members in these States would be a distinctly three-tier affair with a cadre member-worker-Booth Level Agent (BLA) arrangement.

“The worker will relay information from cadre meetings to the booth level worker, who will keep our mass base informed.”

Bihar poll strategy

According to party sources here, the BSP has no intention of allying with any of the big parties or the Left, and prefers to go it alone in the October Assembly polls.

“We are witnessing rifts in several alliances in the State,” said Gandhi Azad, the party's Bihar in-charge. The BSP would contest in all 243 constituencies in Bihar.

“In the event of a triangular or four-cornered fight, our chances of bagging seats would substantially increase,” Mr. Azad said.

In Bihar, the party's stronghold is mainly in the areas of Kaimur, Buxar, Sasaram, Bettiah and Gopalganj, bordering Uttar Pradesh.

In 1990, the BSP entered Bihar's electoral fray under the leadership of Kanshi Ram, but failed to win a single seat.

In 1995, the party opened its account, winning two seats, Mohania and Chainpur.

The BSP, which put up an unspectacular show in the previous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, has however seen an increase in its vote-share since then, especially during the last five years.

‘Fighting for power'

While it managed to bag only two seats in the February 2005 Assembly polls, it won five in the November 2005 Assembly polls. (After the February polls, President's Rule was imposed and hence the November elections).

“Our party came second in 50 constituencies and third in 60 others during the last Assembly polls. Even with our limitations, we are fighting for power this time,” Mr. Azad said.