Maya stays off bypoll campaign

BSP leaders,though reluctant to discuss her absence from the election campaign,claimed this would not affect the party’s prospects. “I can say she has decided not to visit any constituency where bypolls are being held. This is a policy decision of the party,” said Shiv Prasad Yadav,the BSP candidate from Bharthna.

Mahendra Singh Rajput,the BSP candidate from Etawah,said Mayawati’s decision to stay away would not affect his prospects. “Our party has good networking. Her blessings are enough for us. She has communicated her message to party supporters,” Rajput said.

S P Singh Baghel,the BSP candidate for Firozabad Lok Sabha constituency,said the low-profile BSP campaign suited the party in the bypolls.

Rural Development Minister Daddu Prasad,who is in-charge of the Lalitpur bye-election,said Mayawati’s decision “shows that our leader is more confident than those of other parties”. Another party leader said the CM had not campaigned in any of the four Assembly constituencies where bypolls were held in August and “yet the party won three seats”.

Sources said Mayawati first realised that campainging in a bye-election could be counter-productive at the time of the Bhadohi bypolls held in March 2009.

“She drew a crowd of more than one lakh in her meeting in Bhadohi,but the party lost because of polarisation of anti-BSP votes behind the SP,” said a party leader.

Incidentally,the BSP has little to lose in the current bypolls. Of the 11 Assembly seats where bypolls would be held on November 7,the BSP had won only one,Lalitpur,in the Assembly elections in 2007.

Mayawati has tasked PWD Minister Nasimuddin Siddiqui with visiting the constituencies. “His job is to brief Mayawati about the developments and the party’s preparation every evening. She then decides what needs to be done and passes on the necessary instructions,” a party leader said.