Why Mayawati needs good captains
reach middle-rung leaders and they in turn were answerable for helping these problems reach the top leadership. But this chain was broken. The reason? Most of the party’s tickets began to be reserved for the well-heeled. Dalits, minorities and backwards could not relate to these candidates despite being from the same caste. This gave the party’s critics an opportunity to say tickets were being sold in the BSP. This happened despite those levelling the allegations never furnishing the evidence to back this claim. Earlier Mayawati used to condemn dynastic politics. To achieve her mission, she did not even start a family of her own but over a period of time her brother’s interference in the party and governance began increasing. Now Mayawati’s nephew is spotted with her on political platforms. During this time grassroots leaders such as Nasimuddin Siddiqui, Babu Singh Kushwaha and Swami Prasad Maurya deserted her. Some of them levelled such allegations that tarnished the party’s image.
To retain her clout, Mayawati had to take shake off the image she has these days. The incidents in Saharanpur gave her this opportunity. After her resignation from the Rajya Sabha, Mayawati is in the epicentre of Dalit politics. The BJP’s efforts to woo Dalits to its camp have received a setback. Meanwhile, with a proposal to send her to the Rajya Sabha, Lalu Yadav has indicated the emergence of a new polarisation. Will the next few days see an anti-Modi alliance take shape? If it happens, you’ll see Mayawati in a central role there.
An old saying in the army goes: There are two type of officers — loyal lieutenants and good captains. You need loyal lieutenants for a dictatorship and good captains to win a war. At one time Mayawati was Kanshi Ram’s good captain. But she groomed loyal lieutenants. Now Mayawati needs good captains. Will she be able to groom them?