Mayawati re-elected as BSP president, plays down poll setbacks

The party failed to win a single seat in Uttar Pradesh in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

Targeting the Congress and the BJP while also making attempts to boost the morale of her party workers, she urged BSP office-bearers to “strongly contest” the coming bypolls not just in UP but in Haryana, Jammu Kashmir and New Delhi as well.

She said that the Lok Sabha results created “new opportunities for several reasons” and that the NDA government at the Centre “cannot be called a stable and strong government.”

“Despite electoral reverses, the BSP is not disappointed. It is stoutly pursuing the goal and welfare principle majority of “Bahujan Hitaye and Bahujan Sukhaye”,” Mayawati told Party office-bearers.

Emphasising the need to keep the “Bahujan united” in the contest of Lok Sabha election results, especially in Uttar Pradesh, the BSP chief said, “Because of Lok Sabha election results not being one-sided in favour of any particular party, it creates new possibilities and in such a situation, we have to continue our efforts to secure better results in the future by expanding our mass base on the basis of cadre. It is not only necessary to unite Bahujans but it is strictly required to keep them continuously aligned with the party and its movement. No lack of effort or selfishness should come in its way.”

She also told party leaders that the party would continuously review this.

Targeting both Congress and BJP, she said that like “anti-Congressism” in the past, the politics of the country has now become entangled in “anti-BJPism”, whereas both these parties and their alliances are neither true well-wishers of Bahujans, Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs, Muslims and other religious minorities nor can they ever be so.

She alleged that the mindset of both these parties about Bahujans is “narrow, casteist, communal and full of disdain, which is not in accordance with the real objective of the  constitution of the country.”

Alleging a “conspiracy” by the Samajwadi Party, the Congress and BJP to weaken the BSP and its movement, Mayawati said, “The BSP leadership is not going to be nervous over all this. Its struggle to enable Bahujans to fight and gain power over casteist forces and order will continue relentlessly.”

Speaking about the NDA government at  the Centre, she said, “It was formed because  the BJP fell short of a majority. But their attitude does not yet appear to be rational and liberal as demanded now because of which it cannot be called a stable and strong government.”

She added, “It is difficult to say whether this government would be forced to work for real constitutional interest and welfare of the crores of the poor and other toiling masses instead of continuing to work for big capitalists and the super-rich.”

Mayawati pointed out that security of women of the entire country, including UP, is emerging as a major national problem that can be tackled not by mere statements and rhetorical remarks but if the Centre and state governments work with “proper intention and policy.”

A book authored by Mayawati titled ‘Bahujan Samaj Party Appeal – It is Necessary to Save Real “Granth” of Bahujans in Country i.e Constitution, and welfare Movement of Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar from INDIA Alliance of Congress and NDA of BJP and from other selfish elements’ was also released on the occasion.

Two days ago, Mayawati had taken to social media to announce that her retirement from active politics was “out of question”. In 2018, Mayawati had told party workers in Lucknow that she would continue as the party president for the next 20 years until she is too old for the responsibility.