As Dalits Lose Their Political Veto, It's Up to Mayawati to Step Up

Leaders and intellectuals of the Dalit community are looking to Mayawati, the party's sole stalwart, to lead the revival

- Sunita Aron

There are two major fallouts of Mayawati's decision to sack her political successor Akash Anand from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and also not anoint anyone in his place. As for her leadership, however, simmering squabbles in the family are unlikely to have any impact as Mayawati continues to remain BSP's number one leader and none in the party has the wherewithal to break it.

First, Dalits who had rallied around BSP, propelling Mayawati to a position of power in the past, are turning out to be the biggest losers as the party lose political relevance. They are divided and their votes up for grabs in elections. Their disintegration started in 2022 and that fragmentation will be complete if Mayawati fails to take corrective measures and returns to active politics. She remains the first choice of Dalits, especially Jatavs, but her political lethargy, coupled with erratic ways, have demoralized many in the community who have tested other options in the past and are now prepared to move on.

Second, Mayawati seems more isolated now than ever before with even her brother Anand Kumar, who stood like a rock behind her during her political travails, also hinting at separation after she sacked his son Akash Anand from the party. Though she is known to take unilateral decisions, her dependence on the party's national general secretary, and her legal adviser, Satish Chandra Mishra, may grow further, much to the consternation of others.