New Delhi (Agency): Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati has issued a directive to the party’s supporters, urging them to abstain from participating in the upcoming bypoll for the Ghosi assembly seat. The decision comes as the party gears up for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, with Mayawati’s leadership focusing the party’s efforts on the larger electoral battle.
Vishwanath Pal, the president of the BSP’s Uttar Pradesh unit, confirmed the directive and stated, “Behanji (Mayawati) is our leader. Her orders are that we should completely stay away from the by-election. We have nothing to do with the bypoll and are preparing for the Lok Sabha elections.” The bypoll was necessitated by the resignation of Samajwadi Party MLA Dara Singh Chauhan, who subsequently joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The voting for the Ghosi bypoll is scheduled to take place on Tuesday from 7 am to 6 pm, with vote counting set for September 8. While Dara Singh Chauhan is seeking re-election on a BJP ticket, the Samajwadi Party has fielded Sudhakar Singh as its candidate. This bypoll marks the first electoral contest between the BJP and a constituent of the INDIA alliance in Uttar Pradesh.
Vishwanath Pal criticized the situation where elected MLAs resign due to corruption allegations and subsequently rejoin another party, highlighting the anti-defection law’s intent to prevent such actions. He noted that this trend does not serve the public interest and asserted the BSP’s decision to boycott such activities.
In response to questions regarding whether the party cadre and supporters will boycott the bypoll, Pal reiterated Mayawati’s directive, stating, “Behanji (Mayawati) is our leader, and she has told us to completely stay away from the by-election. The public is being cheated and a conspiracy hatched. When we are away from the election, where does the question of voting arise?” Pal emphasized that Mayawati’s message has been conveyed to all party workers and that their focus is on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The outcome of the Ghosi bypoll is of significance as it precedes the next year’s Lok Sabha elections. Although the BJP government maintains a comfortable majority in the Uttar Pradesh assembly, the bypoll’s results could provide insights into the political dynamics leading up to the national elections. The opposition INDIA bloc, comprising Congress and Left parties, is backing the Samajwadi Party nominee, which could impact the alliance’s leadership dynamics in the state.
While the bypoll itself may not directly affect the BJP’s current hold on power, it serves as a political indicator and a prelude to the larger electoral battles on the horizon.