BSP to declare Mayawati as PM candidate, discuss pre-poll alliances
Mayawati is likely to be projected as Bahujan Samaj Party's Prime Ministerial candidate for Lok Sabha elections of 2019 at its national executive meet, today. Possibility of pre-poll alliances with Congress in upcoming elections in MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, will also be discussed. A senior BSP leader said, "The executive committee is likely to pass a resolution announcing Mayawati as a prime ministerial candidate."
Mayawati is tallest Dalit leader, says BSP leader
"She is the tallest Dalit leader with a pan-India appeal. Though BSP suffered crushing electoral defeats in the 2012 assembly, 2014 Lok Sabha and 2017 assembly elections, its support base is still intact," the BSP leader said.
Executive meeting to discuss various pre-poll alliances
BSP feels this announcement might mobilize the Dalit community in favor of the party. The executive meeting will decide on a number of pre-poll alliances like with SP in Uttar Pradesh, with Indian National Lok Dal in Haryana, and the Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka. After Mayawati and Sonia Gandhi's viral moment in Karnataka, earlier this week, it seems an alliance is likely.
Will stars favor BSP in 2019?
In 2008 elections too, Mayawati was fielded as the prime ministerial candidate. Back then, a cutout of the Parliament was placed at the BSP office with a slogan- "Haathi Dilli jaiga". Anant Rao Akela, founder-member, BSP said the party has joined hands with SP, to stop BJP, that is trying to woo Dalit votes. But will the fates of BSP change in 2019?
