http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=24826
BSP may not have its way with upper castes, says book New Delhi, May 2 : The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) may be desperately trying to broaden its base by roping in Hindu upper castes it once despised, but it may not necessarily succeed, a new book says. But if it does emerge as a party enjoying core Dalit support as well as the backing of a broad spectrum of others in the society, the BSP will bring about a radical change in Uttar Pradesh. Noting BSP's efforts to woo the Brahmans, Thakurs and other upper castes among the Hindu community in the state, the book says: "It is questionable whether the BSP will be successful in gaining the support of the upper castes." The observation comes from Sudha Pai, a professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru University here who is also the editor of the 415-page book, "Political Process in Uttar Pradesh" (Pearson/Longman). "At present the BSP has a very small proportion of the total upper caste votes in the state, most of which still remain with the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and the Congress... "Despite media reports, it is not clear how the Brahmins view the BSP and whether in a conservative state such as Uttar Pradesh they will shift their support and vote for a lower-caste party." The book also warns that a recovery of the BJP or Congress in the staggered assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh that end May 8 "could still lead to a return of the Brahmans to their traditional strongholds. Author Pai goes on to say that if the BSP does succeed in emerging as a broad-based party with a Dalit core, "this development could introduce major changes in the politics of the state". But unlike the earlier Congress support base that too included Hindu upper castes and Dalits besides Muslims, Dalits would occupy a predominant position in the governance structure in a similar BSP umbrella. "Such a shift ... holds the possibility of opening a new chapter in Uttar Pradesh politics, and might even lead to the gradual secularization of politics in a state that has been torn apart by identity politics." The book, however, notes that BSP had realized that it cannot capture power exclusively on Dalit strength and it needs a social combine in which Dalits will occupy a central position. "This would require a change in the social support structure of the party, which would be difficult to achieve. "The party has remained divided between a section keen on forming coalitions and/or alliances with other social groups and gaining power in order to introduce social change from above and those who feel that it is necessary to retain the party's hard won identity and position as an exclusively Dalit based organization. "Thus, the BSP leadership will have to grapple with unresolved and highly divisive internal differences and dilemmas regarding the future direction of the party." The BSP remains mainly a Dalit party. It gained 67 percent and 65 percent of its vote share from the Dalits in the 2002 Uttar Pradesh assembly and 2004 Lok Sabha elections. --- IANS
