What’s ailing BSP? The dalit powerhouse must introspect

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), once the undisputed voice of Dalits in Uttar Pradesh and a major force in Indian politics, is facing a sharp and visible decline. Led by Mayawati, the party that once ruled India’s most populous state is now struggling to stay politically relevant.

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections marked a dramatic low for the BSP. Despite contesting 79 seats in Uttar Pradesh, the party failed to win a single seat and managed to secure just 9.6% of the vote share — a steep fall from its previous performances.

Rise of Chandra Shekhar Azad aka Rawan

In contrast, Chandra Shekhar Azad’s Azad Samaj Party (Kanshiram), which positions itself as a new voice for Dalits, won 14.7% of the vote in the state and secured a Lok Sabha seat, signaling a major shift in Dalit political allegiance.

Her recent post raised political temperature

Mayawati’s recent statement, posted on social media platform X, has added fuel to the political fire. While commenting on the internal reshuffle involving Akash Anand, she took a sharp dig at other political parties and emerging Dalit leaders. She wrote, “वैसे भी कांग्रेस, भाजपा व सपा आदि पार्टियों के सहारे व इशारे पर चलकर बहुजनों की एकता व बीएसपी को कमजोर करने वाले बरसाती मेंढकों की तरह के संगठन व दलों के नेता चाहे निजी स्वार्थ में विधायक, सांसद व मंत्री क्यों ना बन जाएं इनसे समाज का कुछ भला होने वाला नहीं। लोग सावधान रहें।” This statement, laced with disdain for rival factions and breakaway leaders, reflects a defensive tone. It is widely interpreted as a reaction to the rising popularity of leaders like Chandra Shekhar Azad and the visible erosion of BSP’s support base.

Fall and fall of BSP

The numbers tell a grim story. The BSP’s vote share in Uttar Pradesh has been on a consistent downward spiral over the last decade and a half. In 2009, the party had won 20 Lok Sabha seats with a vote share of 27.4%. In 2014, it dropped to 19.8%, and although in 2019 it fought in alliance and won 10 seats, its vote share was only 19.4%. In 2024, it nosedived to just 9.6%, signaling a massive loss of public support. State assembly elections reflect a similar pattern. From 25.9% in 2012, the BSP's vote share fell to 22.4% in 2017 and plummeted further to just 13.0% in the 2022 elections. This consistent decline raises a pressing question — what exactly is ailing the BSP?

One of the critical issues appears to be the party’s lack of internal renewal. The BSP has long been seen as a tightly controlled organization centered around Mayawati, with little room for second-rung leadership to emerge and flourish. The rise and abrupt fall of Akash Anand, Mayawati’s nephew who was once projected as her political heir, is a case in point. The party’s inability to nurture and sustain new leadership has alienated younger voters who are increasingly drawn to more assertive and socially engaged figures like Chandra Shekhar Azad.

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Unable to stitch alliance ?

Electoral strategy has also been a major drawback. The BSP has largely preferred to go solo in elections, even when the circumstances called for broader alliances. In a state as socially and politically complex as Uttar Pradesh, this rigidity has limited the party’s reach. While its rivals have adapted and formed coalitions to consolidate votes, the BSP has often appeared isolated and inflexible.

What emerges is a portrait of a party that has failed to evolve with the times. Once the embodiment of Dalit empowerment and social justice, the BSP today appears out of sync with the aspirations of the very communities it once championed. The rise of new Dalit leaders who are vocal, media-savvy, and rooted in ground activism suggests a political vacuum that the BSP has failed to fill.

Mayawati’s legacy as a Dalit icon remains intact, but the political future of the BSP hinges on whether the party is willing to change course and embrace the new realities of Indian politics.