Mayawati launched her campaign from western UP where she distributed tickets through social engineering giving representation to all castes. She ensured that pictures of former Prime Minister Charan Singh were also placed with BSP founder Kansiram and Dr BR Ambedkar. She appealed to dalits, backwards and Muslims to join hands for more seats for her party.

During her campaign and election speeches, Mayawati was very critical of BJP, Congress and Samajwadi Party. So much so Akash Anand political heir of Mayawati also launched attack against BJP governments at the centre as well in state and criticised government policies.

A study of the political scenario in UP reveals that BSP could harm INDIA bloc in some places while it could damage chances of BJP in other constituencies. At the same time BSP could spring surprise by winning a few seats in intense triangular contests.

But the strategy of BSP changed dramatically when star campaigner of the party Akash Anand was booked by the police for his hate speech against BJP government at the centre. He allegedly used objectionable words against BJP government. He also repeatedly said that BSP alone could stop BJP coming to power.

BSP national president Mayawati was very upset with the action against her nephew that led to cancellation of Akash Anand's scheduled meetings in Itawah and Auraiyya.

The manner in which BSP changed candidates in Jaunpur made it clear that she was under tremendous pressure to make the victory of BJP candidates who were finding it difficult to contest with the presence of earlier candidates.

BSP replaced Srikala, wife of former BSP MP Dhananjay Singh by Shyam Singh Yadav. The presence of Srikala being wife of Dhananjay Singh was posing problem for BJP candidate Kripa Shankar Singh.

Similarly in Basti also BSP candidate Dayashankar Mishra was becoming inconvenient for BJP candidate so Mayawati replaced the candidate with Lavkush Patel. The changes in candidates in Jaunpur and Basti provoked Samajwadi Party national party Akhilesh Yadav to accuse BSP of helping BJP.

Akhilesh Yadav said that in some places BSP was indirectly helping BJP but in other places it helped BJP directly. He appealed to the people belonging to Bahujan Samaj Party to vote against BJP. He said that vote for BSP will be just waste as it would help BJP.

It would be worth mentioning here that BSP national President Mayawati became the chief minister four times. During 2007 assembly polls, BSP came to power on its own and Mayawati became chief minister for full five years.

In 2019 Lok Sabha polls BSP contested in alliance with Samajwadi Party and RLD and increased the tally from nil to 10 seats. During 2022 assembly polls BSP witnessed worst performance since 1984 when party was formed with only one seat that too due to individual merit of the candidate.

Out of 10 BSP MPs majority of them have left the party and they are contesting from other political parties. There has been large-scale exodus from the party during last few years. Whether Mayawati's decision to go solo in 2024 Lok Sabha polls will result in winning few seats and help in reviving the fortune of the party only June 4 results will tell. (IPA Service)