The confusion or rather the clarity on Mayawati emerged on the eve of the INDIA’s Mumbai meeting. The question to which side Mayawati would tilt cropped up even as she stressed that the BSP will steer clear of both NDA and INDIA, which is political-speak for beating around the bush, and for indecisiveness. Mayawati responds only to entreaties. Mayawati was expecting INDIA to fall at her feet.

But Pawar made it clear it was up to her to decide. Either, she is with INDIA or she isn’t. Ambivalence is not a choice. And by now it is known that only ultimatums produce results when dealing with the likes of Mayawati. Pawar’s straight-speak doesn’t give Mayawati room to manoeuvre.

INDIA can do without instability of the Mayawati kind. Presented with an ultimatum, Mayawati has to decide. There is no longer confusion on what is expected from her. The fact is, if Mayawati isn’t booed, she is also not being wooed for electoral considerations. Doesn’t matter whether the BSP is in this or that camp. Actually, Mayawati should be worried that Sharad Pawar does not consider her worthy of INDIA.

Sharad Pawar’s assessments carry weight. His is not some no-account 'neta'. And Pawar clearly does not trust Mayawati. His comment “it is learned that Mayawati is talking to the BJP and she needs to give clarity on her stand...once that is clear, we can have a discussion about her coming to INDIA” is a directive. It is like Pawar’s word is the last. But then, Pawar is only drawing conclusions from Mayawati’s statements made on Elon Musk’s ‘X’ platform.

The BSP supremo has said on ‘X’ that BSP will “go solo” in the 2024 general elections. Ditto in the upcoming assembly elections. Adding that every other party including the BJP wanted to tie-up with the BSP, a statement that is still to be verified. Unfortunately, the best fact-checkers of India are too engrossed in 'Hindu-Muslim' social media claims to get the reality checked on this one.

What goes in favour of Mayawati is that BSP candidates for the year-ending Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh assembly elections have already been announced. In both states, the BJP and the Congress are in direct contest. The BSP used to be in contention in some assembly constituencies of Madhya Pradesh but whether it can make a difference in the Lok Sabha elections is a no-brainer. Rajasthan is a complete ‘no-no’.

Chhattisgarh will not be different though Mayawati will make considerable noise about how none of parties other than the BSP is pro-poor. In fact, she has slammed the anti-poor policies of both the BJP and the Congress; therefore, not worthy of a BSP alliance with either of them.

The BSP Chief does not trust the media. “Media se appeal no fake news please”, Mayawati posted on ‘X’, her contempt for both the NDA and INDIA quite apparent. The “anti-poor, casteist, communal, pro-rich and pro-capitalist policies” terminology spelled out her stand and Sharad Pawar caught the drift earlier than other INDIA politicians. Mayawati left no room for the media to indulge in “misconceptions”.

Come to think of it, Mayawati did not seem impressed by Sharad Pawar’s assertion that INDIA would be a challenge to NDA. If Mayawati is read correctly, the “political change” that Pawar expects from INDIA is at best a shot in the dark. As far as Mayawati is concerned INDIA wouldn’t make a dent on the “anti-poor, casteist, communal, pro-rich and pro-capitalist policies” of its constituents.

There was a time when talk like the sort mouthed by Mayawati used to fire up the electorate. But The Modi years, with its crony capitalism and double-speak, have sapped the revolutionary spirit. Can the BSP single-handedly contest the 2024 general elections and win seats; will the “oppressed” unite to Mayawati’s call for “mutual brotherhood” and "no-jugaad" politics? Sharad Pawar has done his reality-check for Mayawati. The only time Mayawati won elections “single-handedly” was in the 2007 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. Mayawati has to get off the fence and choose or lose her political relevance on the slippery slope of irrelevance. (IPA Service)