Amid the AAP-Congress alliance and internal fighting in the BJP, Mayawati’s party makes a bold bid to reclaim electoral ground in the national capital.
Mohammad Alamullah | Clarion India
NEW DELHI — In a significant political development, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has announced its candidates for all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, marking a strategic manoeuvre by party chief Mayawati to challenge the dominant political forces in the national capital. Notably, BSP’s candidate list includes two Muslim contenders, signalling a calculated effort to diversify its electoral appeal.
The BSP’s candidate slate reflects a diverse array of professions, with three lawyers among those nominated. Advocate Abdul Kalam and Advocate Abdul Basat, both former members of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), have been fielded from Chandni Chowk and South Delhi constituencies respectively. Advocate Rajan Pal, representing the legal community, secured the party’s nomination for East Delhi. Dr. Ashok Kumar emerged as the candidate for North-East Delhi. Additionally, Advocate Styih Prakash Gautam, J Buddha, and Vishakha Anand have been chosen to contest from New Delhi, North-West Delhi, and West Delhi, respectively.
The move by BSP comes amidst a shifting political landscape in Delhi, with the recent resignation of Delhi Congress chief Arvind Singh Lovely and escalating tensions between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress alliance. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is also facing infighting. BSP’s decision to contest all seven seats underscores its ambition to capitalise on the evolving political dynamics and reassert its presence in the national capital.
Delhi BSP state president Laxman Singh emphasised the party’s independence and determination to forge its path in the electoral arena. “Sometimes Congress and BJP used us against each other… Now, when AAP and Congress have come together, everything is clear who is with whom,” Singh remarked, highlighting BSP’s resolve to contest elections independently.
Singh pointed out BSP’s unique position as the only party to field Muslim candidates in Delhi, a move aimed at broadening the party’s appeal and consolidating its core voter base. With BSP’s traditional supporters divided between Congress and AAP in previous elections, Singh expressed confidence in their return to the BSP fold, both in Delhi and across the country.
While BSP’s decision to contest all seats raises questions about its impact on the AAP-Congress alliance and the BJP, the true ramifications will only be revealed on the results day, slated for June 4.
BSP’s electoral history in Delhi reflects a mixed trajectory, with fluctuating vote shares over the years. Despite securing 9 percent of the votes in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, the party’s support dwindled to 6 percent in 2014 and a mere 1 percent in 2019. Nevertheless, BSP remains undeterred, buoyed by its increasing vote share in municipal and assembly elections and its determination to reclaim lost ground in the upcoming parliamentary polls.
