Rebels are a tough challenge for BSP this election

In the final two rounds of elections in Uttar Pradesh, rogue BSP politicians are becoming a significant dilemma for the party. Mayawati, the BSP's president, has issued a clear directive to her party's members to teach the insurgents a lesson and assure their defeat, but it's simple to say but tough to implement. The majority of the BSP's prominent breakaway leaders are now running on SP tickets. Ambedkar Nagar, a BSP stronghold, is presently running on the symbol of Lalji Verma, Ram Achal Rajbhar, and Tribhuvan Dutt from a district renowned as the birthplace of Samajwadi Ram Manohar Lohia (all BSP rebels). Lalji Verma, a Kurmi community member, and five-time MLA was the BSP parliamentary party's leader in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.

Ram Achal Rajbhar, a five-time MLA and former BSP state president, is a well-known OBC figure in the district. Tribhuvan Dutt is a Dalit, a former Lok Sabha MP, and a two-time MLA.

Rakesh Pandey, the fourth SP candidate, is the father of BSP MP Ritesh Pandey from Ambedkar Nagar, however, he is running on an SP ticket. The addition of these BSP politicians to the Samajwadi Party has surely strengthened the Samajwadi Party's chances in the district.

In Ambedkar Nagar, where four of the SP's five candidates are former BSP leaders, the SP is likely to fight the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the cost of the BSP. At a recent rally, Mayawati revealed why she had to be booted out of the BSP.

He accused the rebels of fomenting party factionalism. Katehari, Akbarpur, and Jalalpur were among the three seats gained by the BSP in Ambedkar Nagar in 2017. Swami Prasad Maurya, who is running for the Fazilnagar seat in Kushinagar, is another BSP defector who joined and then left the BJP. The BSP and the BJP are now working around the clock to secure Maurya's demise.

Swami Prasad Maurya has conducted door-to-door campaigns in rural regions to enhance voter awareness of issues such as caste census, stray cattle, a lack of health and education services, and unemployment.

He is consciously avoiding caste politics. In the 2009 by-elections, 2012, and 2017 assembly elections, I was elected from Padrauna in Kushinagar district, he claims. The masses will reject the exterior labels offered (given) by opposing parties. In addition to the usual support base of the Samajwadi Party, I am receiving backing from various communities. They, like Padrauna, are aware of this. Fazilnagar will also emerge as a constituency. It's best to wait until March 10th to get a complete picture of the BSP's and other parties' gains and losses.