The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): In a surprising and candid statement on June 5, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati blamed the ‘Muslim samaj (community)’ for the party’s poor performance in the recent elections. Despite giving adequate representation to Muslims, she claimed the community failed to appreciate the BSP’s goals and programs.
Mayawati expressed her dissatisfaction, stating, “The Muslim community, which is an important part of the Bahujan Samaj Party, is not able to understand the BSP properly despite being given proper representation in past elections and this time too in the Lok Sabha elections. So, in such a situation, the party will give them a chance in the elections after a lot of thought so that the party does not suffer such electoral reverses in future.”
The BSP, which previously secured five seats in 2019 in alliance with the Samajwadi Party (SP), failed to win any seats in the current election. However, the party polled around nine percent of the votes, despite not securing a single seat in Uttar Pradesh.
Mayawati thanked her “own jaati” (the Jatav community) for their support. She pointed out that the BSP had also failed to secure seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, hinting at a persistent issue within the party’s support base.
Reactions to her statement were mixed. Some Muslims questioned her motives for fielding Muslim candidates, accusing her of aiding the BJP by splitting the opposition vote. “Isn’t it true that you have been selecting Muslim candidates at the behest of Amit Shah?” asked one indignant community member.
Others appreciated her decision, sarcastically noting that it would benefit the community if she stopped giving tickets to affluent Muslims who run businesses in Mumbai but contest elections in UP to help the BJP. “At least these rich Muslims will now be able to spend the money for the welfare of the community,” commented one.
Another critical reaction questioned why the party only polled nine percent of the vote in a state where the Dalit population is 25 percent. SP sources recalled that after winning twice as many seats in 2019 in alliance with the SP, Mayawati accused Yadavs of not transferring votes to BSP candidates, leading to the breakup of the alliance.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, known for his restraint, refrained from reacting to Mayawati’s accusations. During the 2022 Assembly elections, Yadav urged people to vote for candidates who could defeat the BJP, maintaining a non-confrontational stance towards the BSP, which enabled Dalits in UP to align with the SP.
Mayawati’s statement also brought attention to her decision to remove her nephew and political successor, Akash Anand, from election-related work. Anand, who was mobilizing Dalits to vote for the BSP, was sidelined amid allegations of his political immaturity and external influence from former Union home minister Amit Shah.
Critics cited the election result from Amroha, where Danish Ali lost to the BJP by 30,000 votes. The BSP candidate’s significant vote tally is believed to have cost Ali the election. “Under Mayawati, BSP has become a ticket-selling enterprise…stop scapegoating Muslims, Mayawati ji,” a Muslim respondent remarked.
Despite her controversial statement, Mayawati’s party members pledged their continued support and urged her to reinstate Akash Anand’s responsibilities.