In order to defeat the Bhartiya Janta Party in the upcoming 2019 polls, Bahujan Samaj Party aka BSP chief Mayawati is likely to break her decision of not contesting in Lok Sabha elections.
Mayawati might contest from her old constituency Ambedkar Nagar. BSP has a strong influence over the constituency and its surrounding areas. She stopped fighting general elections for the Lower House of the Parliament in 2004. But now in order to show resistance against BJP, she might determine to change her decision.
A Senior BSP leader said,”The 2019 Lok Sabha election is crucial for the BSP to revitalize the party cadres, who are demoralized after three successive defeats in 2012 assembly election, 2014 Lok Sabha poll and 2017 assembly election. The BSP chief is likely to lead the fight by contesting from Ambedkarnagar”. He also said that the party is looking for other seats where they have maximum chances of winning.
In order to ensure her win, the party is also considering to make her contest from Bijnor, her earlier seat. But Ambedkar Nagar seat seems like the best choice for now.
Mayawati was elected as a member of Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of the Parliament in 2004. She was reelected in 2012.
This can be a major twist in the upcoming elections of 2019. After the coalition of BSP and its biggest rival in Uttar Pradesh SP and their victory in Gorakhpur and Phulpur bypoll, the opposition’s hope has revived in winning the upcoming 2019 polls.
Akhilesh Yadav, ex-CM of Uttar Pradesh has already decided to contest from Kannauj constituency. If Mayawati declares her contestation, it will prove fruitful for their coalition. BSP might also portray Mayawati as the first Dalit Prime Minister and lure votes through the caste-card. The question remains whether she will be accepted as the face of PM by other alliance parties.