BSP's national party status at risk with zero MLAs, zero MPs

The Bahujan Samaj Party, which once had the strength to form a government on its own in Uttar Pradesh, now appears to be facing a crisis of existence. The BSP's vote share has kept falling after every election, and because of this the Election Commission is considering stripping the party of its national party status and declaring it a regional party.

The Election Commission is watching the Uttar Pradesh assembly election closely. If the BSP's performance remains weak this time as well, the commission could declare it a regional party. Not only that, the elephant symbol the BSP holds at the national level could also be changed. In its place, the party could be given one of the symbols reserved for regional parties in Uttar Pradesh. This could prove to be a major setback for the BSP at a time when the BJP-led central government is in power.

At present the Bahujan Samaj Party does not have a single MLA anywhere in the country. Not only that, the party has no MP in either the Rajya Sabha or the Lok Sabha. This is the first time in the BSP's history that the party has no elected representative in any house.

The party's internal organisational structure is also growing weaker. BSP supremo Mayawati herself appears undecided on who will lead the party forward. She initially handed the party's command to her nephew Akash Anand, but later removed him from all posts. Akash Anand did return to the party, but this time his political innings did not last long either. Mayawati again removed him from the party and all posts. Mayawati also alleged that Akash Anand, at his father-in-law's behest, was working to weaken both her and the party.

Mayawati has now indicated that the party's command could be handed to her niece Deepika Anand, who is the sister of Akash Anand and Ishan Anand. Deepika Anand is currently studying law in London. However, Mayawati has also said that a decision on giving Deepika Anand a bigger responsibility in the BSP will be taken only after assessing her work.

BSP workers say that Mayawati has always spoken against dynastic politics, but in the end wants to choose her successor from within her own family, even though the party has other Dalit leaders. Others believe Mayawati has made a good decision in handing the command to Deepika Anand, as this would put the BSP in a woman's hands. No other party has given a Dalit woman such a big post and such respect so far, and this is possible only in the BSP. They say it does not matter that Deepika Anand belongs to Mayawati's family.