The Chairperson of the Bahujan Samaj Party, Mayawati, has surveyed the political spectrum once again in Uttar Pradesh by exhuming Kanshi Ram’s legacy on Rapai’s death anniversary. “If Akhilesh Yadav really respected Kanshi Ram, why did he change the name of the district named after him to Kasganj?” Mayawati asked her party members. Her inquiry sparked renewed political discussions across the state.
A Sharp Blow to Akhilesh Yadav and SP
Mayawati’s remarks are viewed as a direct jab at the chief of the Samajwadi Party (SP), Akhilesh Yadav. In questioning his choice to change the district name, she has thrown back into the spotlight the BSP’s contribution to social justice for Dalits. It seems like she is trying to recapture Dalit voters, who have increasingly moved towards the SP in the past couple of years.
Mayawati:BSP’s Plan for Future Elections
Political analysts believe that Mayawati’s remarks are part of the wider strategy to motivate BSP workers ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Playing to the emotions of Kanshi Ram’s followers should increase support for the BSP at the grassroots level.
Silence from SP and Political Consequences
While SP leadership has stayed silent so far, insiders suggest that the remark may force the party to revisit its position on Dalit matters. The BJP’s control of UP politics gives the revival of BSP-SP rivalry the potential to change the composition of future alliances, too, and with that, voter divisions.
