Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party one step closer to 2019 tie-up

New Delhi: SP’s victory in UP by-elections with BSP’s support may provide fresh energy to the moves for opposition unity, but a broader alliance between the two traditional rivals from India’s most populous state may still be a long way away. However, wresting of two Lok Sabha seats that were vacated by the current state CM and his deputy suggests that SP’s political understanding with BSP has worked at the ground level.

BSP did not field its candidates in the bypolls, but suddenly came into the focus, announcing support to the SP candidate almost unexpectedly and with just a week to go for the polls. The party’s local units immediately swung into action and started working to divert its votes in favour of the SP candidates.

That boosted the SP campaign as well.


Sources in BSP said its local units had brought to the notice of the leadership the prevailing disappointment among the cadre after the party’s poor performance in the 2017 assembly polls.

“This is the time for the party coordinators to look for BSP candidates in every Lok Sabha seat. So, it was necessary for BSP to send out a positive message” on its intention to provide a serious alternative to BJP, said one of them, explaining the decision to back SP candidates in the by-elections. And, SP’s selection of candidates made it easier. The presence of a member of the Nishad community, among the most backward castes, as the SP nominee in Gorakhpur suited BSP’s political interest.

It was also comfortable supporting a Patel candidate in Phulpur, a source said. In Gorakhpur, BJP faced a direct contest with SP. Nishads have considerable presence in this constituency and both SP and BSP are trying to woo them.

SP candidate Pravin Nishad is the son of Sanjay Nishad, who is the president of the Nishad party. Sources in BSP said they, however, didn’t see the by-election results as a perfect sign for an alliance between the parties. “Our leader Mayawati ji is a sharp politician and always prefers to keep her political options open,” a source said.