Ambeth Rajan
In the volatile arena of Indian politics, where fortunes shift like sand in the wind, some moments feel hauntingly repetitive. One such moment unfolded recently within the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a party that once roared with ambition but now seems to struggle to even hold its ground. The latest shockwave came when the party’s supremo, Mayawati, made a stunning proclamation: there would be no successor to her leadership “till her last breath.” This declaration effectively crushed the faint hopes of rejuvenating the BSP, with her nephew Akash Anand, once seen as her potential heir, being sacked from all party posts for the second time within ten months.
The timing of this move could not have been more disastrous. Akash Anand, a management graduate with powerful oratory skills and a growing following among the cadre, was considered by many as the party’s best hope for resurgence. But Mayawati’s decision to remove him—again—reflected more than just a personal rift; it marked another nail in the BSP’s coffin, sending a chilling message about its future.
A Legacy in Peril: The Fall of an Empire
Once upon a time, the BSP was a political juggernaut in Uttar Pradesh (UP), India’s most populous and politically significant state. Founded by Kanshi Ram to empower the Dalit community, the BSP became a beacon of hope for marginalized groups. Under Mayawati’s leadership, the party reached the heights of political power, winning multiple terms as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and garnering national attention. She was once seen as a contender for the Prime Minister’s post, a powerful woman leading the charge for Dalit rights and political inclusion.
But fast-forward to the present, and the BSP’s trajectory looks vastly different. The party’s recent struggles have mirrored the disillusionment that has been steadily building over the years. Despite early successes, Mayawati’s leadership now stands on the brink of irrelevance. The core principles of Dalit empowerment that once drove the BSP have been eroded by internal strife, authoritarian tendencies, and the party’s inability to evolve with the changing times.
A Rising Tide: The BJP’s Steady Encroachment
The most glaring shift in Indian politics has been the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has steadily encroached on the BSP’s once-secure base in Uttar Pradesh. Historically, the BSP had a firm grip on Dalit voters, who formed the bedrock of its support. But with the BJP’s meteoric rise, much of the BSP’s traditional vote bank has shifted allegiance. From a party that once stood in fierce opposition to the BJP’s dominance, Mayawati’s BSP now finds itself struggling to keep pace with the national political shift.
The BJP’s rise has been swift and strategic. In Uttar Pradesh, once a BSP stronghold, the BJP has made significant inroads, appealing to Dalits, backward classes, and even upper-caste Hindus. This transformation has been reflected in the results of recent elections, where the BSP’s performance has been disastrous, and the BJP has emerged as the dominant force.
The writing on the wall is clear. Mayawati’s once formidable presence in UP politics has been eclipsed by a newer, more aggressive political narrative. The BSP’s attempts to cling to past glory now seem like futile efforts in the face of a resurgent BJP.
The Dictatorship of Mayawati: A Political Contradiction
One of the key factors in the BSP’s decline has been Mayawati’s increasingly autocratic style of leadership. While Kanshi Ram built the BSP on ideals of empowerment and inclusivity, Mayawati has centralized power in her own hands, leaving little room for internal democracy or leadership development. The removal of Akash Anand is just the latest in a series of decisions that illustrate her dictatorial tendencies.
Mayawati’s leadership is marked by a paradox: she often accuses the “Manuwadi” parties—those which perpetuate the dominance of upper castes—of being authoritarian, yet her own actions display similar traits. By sidelining potential leaders and concentrating power within her inner circle, she has cultivated an atmosphere of control that stifles growth within the party. The absence of a clear succession plan and the failure to nurture new talent have left the BSP a shadow of its former self.
The result is an aging party, unable to adapt to the demands of modern Indian politics. With a leadership vacuum and no clear path forward, the party risks falling into political obscurity.
The Failure to Foster New Leadership: A Self-Inflicted Wound
One of the most significant failures of the BSP has been its inability to cultivate second-tier leadership. For years, Mayawati has been the face of the party, but as time passes, the party has become increasingly reliant on her singular leadership. This lack of leadership development has left the BSP vulnerable to both external challenges and internal crises. The removal of Akash Anand only highlights this issue—the party had no one else to turn to.
Without new faces and fresh ideas, the BSP has become stagnant. The younger generation, which may have once looked to the party for inspiration, now views it with indifference. The failure to attract and nurture young leaders has left the party with little political capital in an increasingly youth-driven political landscape.
Mayawati’s autocratic tendencies, combined with the party’s failure to modernize and diversify, have led to a lack of coherence in its political message. The once-successful social engineering that Mayawati employed to create a broad coalition of Dalits, backward classes, and Muslims is now a relic of the past. Without a clear ideological direction or vision for the future, the BSP has lost its competitive edge.
The Corruption and Disconnect: The Party’s Decline
Mayawati’s leadership has also been marred by accusations of corruption and a growing disconnect with the very people she once claimed to represent. The party has become synonymous with allegations of financial irregularities and nepotism, further eroding its credibility. The Dalit community, which was once the heart of the BSP’s electoral base, now feels disillusioned by the party’s inability to deliver on its promises of social and economic justice.
At the grassroots level, the disconnect between Mayawati and the party’s supporters has only deepened. The BSP, once seen as a voice for the voiceless, now appears out of touch with the issues that matter to the Dalit community. As other political parties, notably the BJP, have begun to cater to the aspirations of Dalits, the BSP’s claims to represent their interests ring hollow.
The End of an Era? A Future in Doubt
Mayawati’s refusal to step aside and allow for a successor to take charge is perhaps the clearest indicator that the BSP’s best days are behind it. With no clear plan for the future and no fresh leadership on the horizon, the party seems destined for political obscurity. Akash Anand, once seen as the party’s future, has now been discarded—yet another casualty of Mayawati’s rigid hold on power.
The BSP, which once embodied hope and empowerment for millions of marginalized individuals, now stands at a crossroads. Mayawati’s leadership, once heralded as a breakthrough for Dalit politics, has turned into a cautionary tale of how absolute power can corrode the very ideals it was meant to protect.
As the BJP continues to chip away at what remains of her political stronghold, one must ask: Is this the end of Mayawati’s political journey? Has the BSP’s decline become irreversible? Or is there still a chance for revival—if only Mayawati can relinquish control and allow the party to evolve beyond her shadow?
For now, all signs point to a bleak future for the BSP, unless Mayawati makes a radical shift in both her leadership style and the party’s direction. If not, the once-mighty BSP may soon fade into the annals of political history, a victim of its own internal contradictions and the changing tides of Indian politics.
(Writer is a former MP and Ex national Treasurer of BSP)
