Lucknow: In a major political move in Uttar Pradesh, BSP supremo Mayawati openly praised Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during a grand rally in Lucknow, while simultaneously launching a sharp attack on the Samajwadi Party (SP) and its leader Akhilesh Yadav. The development is being seen as a significant strategic maneuver ahead of the 2027 assembly elections.
Mayawati expressed gratitude to the Yogi government for its role in maintaining monuments and for positive initiatives benefiting the Bahujan community. At the same time, she criticized the SP for using the PDA formula—targeting the backward, Dalit, and minority communities—only when in opposition, neglecting it while in power. This move is a calculated effort to consolidate Dalit and Bahujan votes for the BSP, aware that SP’s PDA strategy has strengthened the Dalit-Muslim-OBC coalition, potentially affecting BSP’s core voter base.
In a decisive declaration, Mayawati announced that the BSP will contest elections independently, avoiding alliances, noting that previous coalitions with SP or Congress had not benefited the party. Her soft stance towards BJP and the praise for Yogi are part of a carefully designed strategy, recognizing that the real competition is not just with BJP, but also the vote-splitting tactics of SP and Congress.
Mayawati’s strategy focuses on strengthening her influence among Dalits, reconnecting with non-Jatav Bahujan voters, and reviving the broad social coalition reminiscent of 2007’s “Sarvajan Hitay-Sarvajan Sukhay” approach, which had delivered a full majority. Despite BSP’s declining performance in successive elections—from 206 seats in 2007 to just one in 2022—she aims to rebuild her political capital first through panchayat elections and ultimately the 2027 assembly polls.
Opposition parties are attempting to portray BSP-BJP proximity as a covert alliance, labeling Mayawati as a “B-team” of BJP. However, BSP insists its real objective is to restore its traditional Dalit-Bahujan voter equation, independent of any alliance, even if it attracts criticism.
In summary, Mayawati’s strategy is designed to weaken SP’s PDA formula, regain Dalit trust by showing closeness with BJP, and unify the Bahujan community, potentially reshaping UP’s political landscape. The effectiveness of this maneuver will be tested in upcoming local body elections and the 2027 assembly polls, but for now, the BSP supremo’s moves are creating visible unease in both SP and Congress ranks.
