If that happens, Mayawati would lose further momentum. At the candidate level there is some palpable unhappiness in BSP over the manner in which they are being asked to convert old currency as opposed to preparing for an election. Besides, it’s not clear if the arithmetic will still work for her: she needs to get a section of Muslim votes (19% of the population) or the Brahmins (10%) to add to her solid Dalit base (21%).
In western UP she has traditionally been the main force taking on BJP but minorities elsewhere actually prefer SP even as an older generation hankers for Congress. The Brahmins would stick with BJP unless the Congress looks viable, only possible if an alliance is forged.
Electoral choices change depending on the assessment of which party appears likely to win. On current assessment it’s zero balance for everyone, as across parties, leader and cadre are disoriented. In the PM’s constituency, Varanasi, the chairman of the Vastra Udyog Sangh, has a profile picture of himself with Modi. But he’s laid off thousands of weavers and lost 70% of his business. He believes the PM has been misled and is waiting for a chance to tell him so.
(Sourced from agencies, feature image courtesy:thehindu.com)
