BSP faces exodus as its MPs seek greener pastures amid party's 'suicidal ekla chalo' policy for 2024
BSP, which won 10 seats in alliance with SP & RLD in 2019 LS polls, will go it alone this yr. This decision may have led its MPs to look to other parties with 'winnability factors'. Key Points
ThePrintBye-bye BSP: MP joins BJP, 3 more in talks; another 2 set for Congress, 1 for RLD
Ambedkarnagar MP Ritesh Pandey defected to BJP. More MPs from BSP may join BJP and RLD. Mayawati-led outfit may lose more MPs ahead of Lok Sabha elect Key Points
Times Of IndiaAnother BSP MP bats for ‘INDIA’, says Mayawati out of sync with ‘majority’ view within party
BSP MP Shyam Singh Yadav says many within party are in favour of joining INDIA alliance. However, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee has said Mayawati will not join INDIA bloc. Key Points
ThePrintAhead of 2024, BSP chief Mayawati names her nephew, Akash Anand, as her successor
The crucial announcement comes just months before the next general election to be held in April-May. Akash is the son of Mayawati's younger brother, Anand Kumar, who is considered next to the former chief minister in the BSP. Key Points
Business TodayBSP draws a blank in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana, gets two seats in Rajasthan
The BSP polled 2.09 per cent of the votes in Chhattisgarh, 1.82 per cent in Rajasthan, 3.32 per cent in Madhya Pradesh and 1.38 per cent in Telangana this time, faring worse than it had done in 2018. Key Points
Hindustan Times
Mayawati, Kanshi Ram, Ambedkar statues removed from BSP headquarters
The reason for the removal of statues of Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, party founder Kanshi Ram and the father of the Indian Constitution, BR Ambedkar, from the BSP headquarters isn't known yet. Some reports have linked it to the party's poll preparations. Key Points
India Today2024 LS polls: Mayawati calls BSP U.P. unit meeting on June 21
BSP chief Mayawati has called a meeting of her party leaders and office bearers in Lucknow on June 21 to discuss special political developments and equations related to the political situation as well as the preparations for the upcoming general elections. Her decision to hold the meeting before opposition parties? Patna meeting has sparked speculation that she may make some announcement over her party?s strategy or alliance for the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Key Points
Hindustan TimesSecond phase of civic polls: BSP hoping to retain two mayoral seats it won in 2017
BSP mobilises cadre for second phase of local bodies poll in 38 districts on May 11. BSP relying on Dalit-Muslim-Backward formula to secure victory. Key Points
Hindustan TimesBSP plays Muslim card in local body election
BSP fields Muslim candidates in 5 out of 7 mayor seats in 2nd phase of Uttar Pradesh civic polls. BSP has given tickets to 11 Muslim candidates in total. Key Points
Hindustan TimesUP BSP chief: ‘BJP publicity system presented BSP as dummy and SP as the party in the fight… so that Muslims go with it’
"Had the BJP govt provided reservation to OBCs and SC/STs, nobody would have needed to approach the courts. BJP feared defeat and hence it got them postponed. BSP is completely prepared," UP BSP chief Vishwanath Pal said. Key Points
The Indian Express
Maya raises student suicides, blames ‘caste exploitation’
Government neglect, lack of rule of law and increasing caste exploitation are leading to increasing cases of suicide in higher educational institutes. The governments need to take urgent steps to check the trend, Maya said. Key Points
Hindustan TimesBSP veterans concerned over ouster & suspension of Muslim leaders — 'lack of 2nd line of Leadership'
Over past 6 yrs, several Muslim leaders have exited BSP, giving rise to concerns about party suffering setbacks in 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Meanwhile, Congress has started its UP Jodo Yatra. Key Points
ThePrintMP Danish Ali suspended by BSP for 'anti-party' activities
Lok Sabha MP Danish Ali was suspended by Mayawati-led BSP on Saturday for allegedly indulging in anti-party activities. Ali was earlier a part of JD(S) and had joined the BSP in 2019. Key Points
India TodayWhy slain Raju Pal’s wife embraced SP which had ‘sheltered’ Atiq Ahmed
In 2019, slain BSP MLA Raju Pal’s wife joined the SP, a party she had accused of sheltering Atiq Ahmed. Even her brother and a witness of Raju’s murder, Umesh Pal, had briefly joined the SP. Today, she is an SP MLA and Atiq's wife, wanted for Umesh’s murder, is a BSP member. Key Points
India Today18 Muslims, 14 OBCs, 10 Brahmins — BSP's candidate selection could hurt INDIA bloc more than NDA
In list of 64 BSP candidates so far, SCs only fielded in reserved seats. 10 Brahmins & 5 Thakurs fielded, but they're unlikely to create dent in BJP's 'upper-caste' vote base, say experts. Key Points
ThePrint
BSP chief Mayawati names nephew, Akash Anand, as her successor
BSP chief Mayawati named her nephew, Akash Anand, as her successor at the party meeting on Sunday afternoon. The announcement was made at the party meeting for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Key Points
India TodayBahujan to parivarjan, BSP’s transformation
The BSP lost momentum when it became leader-centric. The emergence of young, energetic Dalit leaders outside its fold has further contributed to its decline. Key Points
Hindustan TimesBJP wins all 17 mayoral posts in Uttar Pradesh, puts up good show in other urban areas
The BJP and its ally Apna Dal(S) emerged victorious in the recent urban local body polls in Uttar Pradesh, winning all 17 mayoral posts and beating the Samajwadi Party in two assembly seats. Though none of the opposition parties could secure a mayoral post, BSP and Congress achieved the second position in a few seats. Key Points
Economic TimesNew face of Bahujan movement: What Mayawati declaring nephew Akash heir means for BSP, UP politics
Akash Anand, the 28-yr-old with an MBA degree, was introduced to BSP workers in 2017. Mayawati says he will now oversee party’s poll prep in all states except UP & Uttarakhand. Key Points
ThePrintBSP to hold special meeting on May 18 to discuss strategy for 2024 Lok Sabha polls
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) will hold a special meeting to discuss the party’s strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha election, said president Mayawati. The officials will devise concrete strategy to face the “fierce challenges” that have arisen “due to misuse of government machinery by the BJP”. Key Points
The Hindu
BSP MP meets PM, draws his attention towards works done in Amroha
BSP MP Kunwar Danish Ali met PM Modi and discussed development works in his constituency and issues related to the welfare of Muslims. He also highlighted the need for addressing key issues associated with the Muslim community to make them a massive human resource for India's growth. Additionally, he drew attention to the problems faced by residents in Amroha and urged for the construction of a railway line, passport processing center, high court bench, and institutes like IIT and AIIMS in west UP. Key Points
Hindustan TimesMaya speaks up, but questions both Cong, BJP for ‘politics of selfishness’
The BSP added that in this context, the Congress “must think whether what happened in 1975 was right and what is happening now with their leader Mr. Rahul Gandhi is also right". Key Points
The Indian ExpressBSP failed to make a mark in polls, but played spoiler for both BJP & Congress in 70 seats
Party drew blank in Telangana, MP, Chhattisgarh. It allied with regional Gondwana Gantantra Party in latter two states. Overall, BSP cut into BJP votes on 31 seats, Congress votes on 39. Key Points
ThePrintBJP trying to woo BSP's dalit vote bank in Uttar Pradesh
BJP, which won 62 seats in the 2019 LS elections in UP, is eyeing to maximise its tally in the state by crossing 70. To achieve that goal, BSP vote bank becomes crucial for the party. SCs account for 20% of the state's population and BSP has more or less managed to hold on to this vote bank. However, in the 2022 assembly elections, BSP lost its vote share from around 19.43% in 2019 Lok Sabha to 13%. Key Points
Economic TimesMayawati's big announcement: Nephew Akash Anand to be her successor in BSP
Mayawati officially appointed nephew Akash Anand as her successor in the BSP. Mayawati will continue to monitor Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. | Latest News India Key Points
Hindustan Times
Atiq Ahmad's wife Shaista Parveen still in BSP, says party leader Uma Shankar
Speaking to reporters, Uma Shankar Singh said, Shaista Parveen, wife of Atiq Ahmad, is still in the party. She has not been expelled from the party. She is not occupying any post in the party. If she is convicted, she will be expelled from the party. Key Points
Economic TimesHow political parties in UP are seeking to appropriate Kanshi Ram as BSP weakens
SP, Congress, BJP & ASP plan outreach programmes for Dalit community. BSP chief Mayawati calls them ‘new well-wishers’ of party founder, says 'posing for sake of votes' ahead of 2024. Key Points
ThePrintLok Sabha elections: Nearly 25 lakh voters in Gurgaon, 3.5 lakh new ones
Explore the latest updates on the Gurgaon Lok Sabha constituency with 3.5 lakh new voters. Get insights on Rao Inderjit Singh's bid for a sixth victory and the key political players. Key Points
Times Of IndiaBSP suspends MP Danish Ali for 'anti-party' activities
Mayawati's BSP dismissed Lok Sabha MP Danish Ali on Saturday for allegedly engaging in anti-party activities. Ali was previously a member of the JD(S) and joined the BSP in 2019. Key Points
Business TodayOpposition's boycott of Parliament building unfair: Mayawati
BSP President Mayawati welcomed the inauguration of a new Parliament building by PM Narendra Modi on May 28, saying the boycott by opposition parties is unfair. Although Mayawati won't be attending due to previously scheduled commitments, she stated that the BSP has always supported issues in the country and public interest, rising above party politics. Key Points
Economic Times