National News: Political turmoil has once again intensified in the Dalit politics of Uttar Pradesh. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati and Azad Samaj Party president and Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad 'Ravan' have once again locked horns. This time, the trigger is Mayawati’s decision to impose restrictions on her nephew Akash Anand. Taking a sharp swipe at the move, Chandrashekhar remarked sarcastically, "This is a matter of their house, but they have ruined Akash's future."
Mayawati put nephew on 'silent mode.'
Mayawati has recently ordered that Akash Anand will no longer talk to the media, and all his political meetings will now be indoors. This simply means that Akash's political activities will now be away from the eyes of both the camera and the public. Only one logic was put behind this decision of" BSP—"Mayawati will be the only voice of the party."
Chandrashekhar's attack: "Akash's future ruined."
On this decision, Chandrashekhar Azad said, "We pray for Akash Anand. This is his family's matter, but Mayawati has ruined him from inside and outside the party." Chandrashekhar further alleged that Mayawati did not struggle in the last 12 years, nor did she take any concrete initiative in favor of the Dalit community. His direct question was, "If Mayawati had done something for the Dalits, then why would people need me?"
BSP's fall, ASP's rise
While the BSP failed to secure even a single seat in the Lok Sabha elections, Chandrashekhar Azad delivered a stunning upset by winning from Nagina with a decisive mandate. Interestingly, Akash Anand had started his election campaign in UP from this seat. But Chandrashekhar got the credit for the victory.
In the recent assembly by-elections, the Azad Samaj Party's performance has been better than the BSP's. And now there are preparations for a direct contest between the two parties in the Panchayat elections.
Chandrashekhar's 'double dose' strategy
Chandrashekhar does not attack Mayawati directly but sharpens his political edge by targeting Akash Anand. He calls Mayawati a "respectable leader" but is garnering the sympathy of Dalit youth by calling Akash's leadership an "attempt to crush it at the very beginning."
The Azad Samaj Party has made a strong foothold in Western UP, and now the Muslim vote bank is also slowly being drawn towards ASP.
Alarm bells for Mayawati?
The decision to keep Akash Anand away from the media shows that BSP is facing internal challenges and a leadership crisis. At the same time, Chandrashekhar 'Ravan' is moving towards becoming the new axis of Dalit politics by being continuously active on the ground.
Now it remains to be seen whether Mayawati's 'single voice' policy will give a new lease of life to BSP or will weaken the party further.
