BSP: A party with a difference
The Pioneer 6 September 2003 Bhaujan Samaj Party: Power is a means to an end and not end in itself Dr. Vivek Kumar Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. The simultaneous events of Mayawati’s recommendation to Governor for dissolution of Uttar Pradesh Assembly and withdrawal of support by Bhartiya Janta Party from her on 25th August 2003, once again threw, Uttar Pradesh the most populous state of India, into a political crises. But with the appointment of Mulayam Singh Yadav as the Chief Minister subsequently has temporarily averted the cries. In the event it is true that UP politics is witnessing number of new power-hungry coalitions. Foes have turned friends with apparent principles or without it. The secularists are hiding their faces as Samajwadi Party ‘the’ champion of secularism in the state forms the government with the clandestine support of BJP. Despite these structural and normative uncertainties and loss of 18 per cent of its area and 5 per cent of its population to Uttaranchal in the year 2000, UP has remained the hub of the Indian politics. Whether it is political assertion of the Dalits in the form of Bahujan Samaj Party or emergence of the Hindu nationalist BJP or revitalization of Congress (I), which once monopolized the Indian politics (because of its hold on UP) or the Peasant dominated agricultural- capitalist Political outfits, all of them have anchorage in this microcosm of Indian nation and want to grab political power in UP by hook or crook. The national political parties are trying to score few points over others proving the dictum true -firing the gun by keeping it on someone else’s shoulder. The smaller parties are jumping with enthusiasm like a kid who while quarrelling with another kid gets unexpected support of an adult. It is really astonishing to see all the political outfits with different political ideology and social base have joined against BSP. In turn the whole process of isolation of BSP has given it an exclusive identity and status of a strong party which cannot take things lining and decides it own course. While half- a -dozen big and smaller political parties in UP are trying to fish in the troubled waters BSP, a party led and dominated by the Dalits has scored some important points in Indian democracy and over other established political parties. Effective Use of Alliance Politics At the out set it was fourth stint of BSP in power. Prior to this trice it has been in power with the some other political party (1993 with SP, 1997 & 2002 with BJP) and once it formed its own government supported by BJP from out side in 1995. It is a fact that BSP is the only party in India which has so successfully used the alliance politics. It cannot be a coincidence that within a decade a party comes to power four times through politics of alliance and each time its base grow. Therefore one is forced to argue that BSP has been successfully implementing a well thought strategy for the development of its party and politics. It is in this context of its growth from election to election that BSP has belied the predictions of political commentators and opinion makers. Above all it has exposed the deficiency of ideologues of different shades specially the secularists who every time predicted a definite co- option of BSP when ever it entered in coalition to form a government with BJP. It is difficult to ascertain the real basis of their prediction. But it never happened rather BSP was always successful in implementing its agenda and there by spreading its support base, leaving BJP leaders and supporters high and dry. I think now the aforesaid intellectuals will not underestimate the skills of state craft of Dalit leaders specially that of BSP leaders. BSP has Initiated Structural Change Another significant gain for BSP is that it has really initiated structural change in the status quoits UP society and that to in a very small span of time. Social structure is often analyzed on the basis of pattern of inter-related roles and statuses which the actors of a specific order enact and occupy in terms of their rights and obligations. Given this reality of social structure we can very well ascertain what rights and obligations did Dalits and so-called upper castes occupied before BSP came on the Dalit liberation horizon in UP? Obviously the so-called upper castes were socially, economically and politically dominant and ruled the society in a hegemonic manner. The Dalits were taken for granted and had to listen to their dictates. Any voice of descent was brutally crushed. But gradually after 1984 with the formation of BSP things started changing. The Dalit assertion with the emergence of BSP deconstructed and reconstructed many identities and symbols of UP society. This whole process created self-respect, confidence, and assertion among the erstwhile cumulatively deprived Dalits. There is no denying the fact that the democratic rights enshrined in the constitution did have their impact but it was very limited as there was no potent force to claim these rights. And in this context BSP made the difference. Soon a perceptible change ushered in the role and status of the Dalits and the so-called upper castes. Today no body can take Dalits for granted in UP. They retaliate in what ever manner they can. The latest episode in Mau district where the Dalits raised their arms against the Thakurs of the area is a case in point. Similarly we can quote the examples of Jaunpur where the Dalits could force the landlords to raise the minimum wages. The case of Gopal Khera in Mohanlal Ganj in Lucknow district also proves the same aspect of Dalit assertion as they raised their arms against the so-Called upper caste. Another as aspect of this structural change is the distribution, regularization and possession of the government land by the BSP government in the name of the Dalits and Most backward castes. The manner in which the Dalits have become the part of the highest echelons of the decision making institutions and shared power further brought the role reversals in the social structure of UP. BSP Highlighted the Immoral Practices of Opposition In the same vein BSP has highlighted, though obliquely, the immoral practices of different political parties, which have made its MLAs defected time and again by illegitimate means for remaining in power. It happened in 1995 when SP did it, it has happened once again in 1997 when BJP and now again it is being done by SP with the help of BJP in 2003. Further these practices have been so overpowering that all the institutions on democracy were subverted. The offices of speaker of the assembly and the highest seat of justice were also not spared and the nation saw how the established rules of law were subverted to suit the BSP’s opposite party. The anti-defection law could never be implemented in UP when ever defection took place in BSP. Power Is Means to an End and not the End itself BSP has again proved a point by not bowing down to the pressure tactics of the coalition partner. It is usually alleged that Bahujan Samaj Party and its leadership is so hungry for political power that it follows no principle for sharing the power. But the ground reality suggests otherwise. BSP has always followed one principle in sharing the political power and that is the development of Bahujan politics because its leadership has this ideology that “political power is the key for all round development of the Dalits.” Secondly, though it is true that if BSP wants to achieve social transformation through political power but that is not the full truth. The full truth is that though power is necessary for social transformation and economic emancipation it is only a means to an end and not end it self. That is why BSP has always taken swift and immediate decision to partway with the power as and when pressed in the corner by the coalition partner. BSP Party with a Difference Given this status and achievements of BSP it is difficult to rule out the possibility of BSP making a come back to power in UP. It is true that BSP will suffer from the political vendetta. In all possibility Ms. Mayawati will be penalized. And so will be the Dalits especially in the country side where they will be in direct confrontation with the Yadavs and other OBCs. But this entire phenomenon will further polarize the marginalized sections and the Dalits in favor of BSP. Dalits will need shelter as the confrontation with OBCs and Upper castes grow and there is no other force in UP which can provide them shelter except BSP and hence they will come to BSP’s , therefore its vote bank will definitely grow in the next election. Further the compulsion of coalition politics added advantage to the party. In the press conference on 28th October she has already left a rider “for defeating BJP she can also join hand with any political party.” That means she has given a hint that she can even join Congress. This announcement has dampen the enthusiasm BJP ideologues about their stands in UP. Because in the parliamentary elections it is certain that BSP is going to do well and then if Congress wants its support it can lend the same. This can marginalized SP and Congress may not need and even support SP in UP. Today BSP is the only party in UP which wants immediate election. Why is the mmot question? Can any other political party in UP match this confidence that BSP possesses. If not then BSP is un-doubtly the party with a difference. |