BSP banks on Brahmins, Muslims to stop BJP march

so far. The number may increase if the party leadership sees some other Muslims have the ability to win certain seats,” said Siddiqi. The BSP has made Naseemuddin Siddiqi and Munqad Ali, the party’s most prominent Muslim faces, coordinators for western UP where the party is locked in a close fight with the BJP.

The BSP has also abolished the post of district vice-president, except in areas where Brahmins and Muslims occupy these positions. “Even in booth level committees, Muslims and Brahmins have been adjusted, although Dalits will continue to head them,” said a party insider.

Apart from Dalits, Brahmins and Muslims, the BSP wants to woo OBC groups such as Rajbhar, Lodh, Kurmi, Kushwaha and Mallah. This combination helped Mayawati gain a majority in the 2007 Assembly elections and raised the party’s vote share in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections as well.

“Almost a similar combination helped the Samajwadi Party in the 2012 Assembly elections. The BJP too is trying to field a similar combination of OBCs along with its core upper caste votes,” said a political analyst and survey agent from UP.

A senior BJP leader confirmed to The Sunday Guardian that the party was planning to field around 35 OBC candidates. This means apart from fielding 17 Dalits from the reserved seats, the party will have to adjust sections such as Brahmins and Thakurs, among others from the rest 28 seats. “And if this calculation goes awry, the BSP will emerge a clear winner as Muslims and Brahmins are least likely to ally with either the SP or the Congress,” said Kubool Ahmed, a journalist with a Hindi news magazine. 22% 18-20% 11% 9% 30-35%