Beyond the Bahujan Samaj Party's significant defeat in the recent Lok Sabha elections, the rise of Chandra Shekhar Aazad from the Azad Samaj Party has deeply unsettled BSP President Mayawati.
Chandra Shekhar Aazad secured a resounding victory in the Nagina reserved Lok Sabha constituency despite facing competition from the BJP, BSP, and SP.
Sources indicate that Mayawati perceives his triumph as a direct challenge to BSP's existence and her leadership among Dalits.
In another notable contest, Azad Samaj Party's Amarjeet Singh finished third in the Domariyaganj seat with more than 81,000 votes.
Meanwhile, BSP candidates placed fourth in both constituencies.
Insiders close to Mayawati reveal that she intends to counter Chandra Shekhar's growing popularity by "re-launching" her nephew Akash Anand.
During the election campaign, Mayawati had withdrawn Akash Anand, citing concerns about his readiness for such a role.
"However, Akash Anand's spirited speeches had begun to attract large crowds, particularly among the youth. The BSP feared he might disrupt things and hence recalled him. Now Mayawati views him as a potential counter to Chandra Shekhar, though the extent of autonomy she will grant him remains uncertain," a senior BSP official commented.
Significantly, BSP's failure to secure any seats in the Lok Sabha elections has damaged its reputation as the voice of Dalits.
In the 2019 elections, BSP won two reserved seats—Nagina and Lalganj—and was the runner-up in eight others. However, this time, the Samajwadi Party claimed the Lalganj seat, a stronghold of BSP since 2009.
Sources suggest that Mayawati's primary challenge in revitalizing BSP lies in the absence of a second-tier Dalit leadership capable of connecting with voters.
"The issue is her lack of trust in anyone, including her nephew. Now, with the emergence of Chandra Shekhar as a significant figure, she faces a pressing decision," the official added.
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