Bhopal: As Madhya Pradesh gets ready for by-elections in 28 assembly seats, the caste equations are considered important where the Scheduled Caste voters can play the role of game-changers. It is believed that whichever party manages to get the support of the voters belonging to the Scheduled Caste definitely wins the election in these seats.
Looking at these equations, for the first time, Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is also trying its luck in the electoral fray in these 28 assembly seats.
However, in Madhya Pradesh the popularity of the BSP is gradually decreasing. The special thing is that out of these 28 seats on which the by-elections are being held, 26 seats are such that the Scheduled Caste voters are in such a position that the party they will vote for can attain victory in the by-election.
BSP and role of Scheduled Caste
The special thing is that the Scheduled Caste voters have been expressing their confidence in the BSP in the Gwalior-Chambal region and the BSP has been continuously winning elections from here. In the last election also two seats were won by the BSP, one of the seats belonged to Chambal region, whereas on many seats the party finished in the second and third positions.
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Influence of Scheduled Caste
Karera, Bhander, Dabra, Ambah, Gohad, Ashoknagar Sanwar, Sanchi, and Agar seats are reserved for scheduled castes. Out of these 28 seats, more than 20 percent of scheduled caste voters have a strong presence in 25 seats.
In the by-elections in 16 seats of Gwalior-Chambal, the BSP has won the election on 11 seats at or some point in time. These include Ashoknagar, Morena, Bhander, Gohad, Mehgaon and Ambah.
BSP's popular base has now decreased: Congress
Congress leader Bhupendra Gupta says that the BSP fought against the Congress in the 2018 assembly elections but the BSP's base has now decreased. The BSP principally declared that it will not participate in the by-elections. But today, only BSP can tell the real purpose of contesting in the by-elections.
BJP contests elections on the basis of its organizational strength
BJP spokesperson Rajneesh Agarwal is seen rejecting the speculations of Jugalbandi i.e. dual performance between BJP and BSP. They say that BJP is in the election arena on the basis of its organisational strength and is seeking vote making development mantra its USP. Be it SC or ST or OBC and General, every section is giving its blessings to BJP.
The opinion of political experts
This is what political expert Deepak Tiwari has to say on BSP and Scheduled Caste’s role in the upcoming by-election. He says that BSP had never contested in the by-elections since its inception. The main contest in these by-elections is between the BJP and the Congress.
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BSP entering in these elections, the purpose is very obvious and apparent. Any political observer or even an ordinary man can tell that the BSP has not fielded its candidates for the purpose of winning these seats. The BSP's sole purpose is to ensure the defeat of Congress candidates. The kind of caste equation that is present in these 28 seats, there is no such seat where less than 20% of the scheduled caste voters are there.
However, the way Mayawati has been silent on all the issues like the Hathras incident and several others that have shown the BJP in poor light, it seems that understanding is going on between BJP and Mayawati. But how much will the Scheduled Caste voter understand this partnership between the two political parties is to be seen only after the election results are declared.
