In the aftermath of the recent Haryana assembly elections, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati has voiced her criticism of the Jat community, attributing the party's disappointing performance to their casteist mindset.
During a press conference held in New Delhi, she elaborated on how this mindset prevented the BSP-Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) alliance from garnering support from the Jat voters, which was crucial for their electoral success.
Mayawati highlighted that Haryana is primarily an agriculture-oriented state, where the Jat community plays a significant role. She noted that dissatisfaction among farmers regarding both state and central government policies had influenced voting behaviour.
Many in the Jat community, unhappy with what they perceive as anti-farmer actions, shifted their support to the Congress party, leaving the BSP-INLD alliance with little backing from this vital demographic.
According to Mayawati, the Jat community's reluctance to vote for the BSP was evident except in a handful of constituencies. She pointed out that their ingrained casteist beliefs severely impacted the alliance's chances in the election.
This, she argued, created a divide that ultimately hurt the BSP's prospects. She further elaborated on the internal strife within the Chautala family, which she believes played a pivotal role in the election outcomes.
The infighting led to the diversion of Jat votes toward the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which benefited from the discontent within the INLD. Mayawati mentioned that while the BSP's core Dalit voters largely shifted their support to the INLD candidates, the Jat community's votes were largely lost to the BJP due to the ongoing factional disputes within their own ranks.
Mayawati expressed her disappointment over the continued division between Jat and Non-Jat communities in Haryana, stating that this division significantly undermined the BSP's position in the elections.
She noted that, while there has been a change in the Jat community's attitude toward Dalits in Uttar Pradesh, the same has not occurred in Haryana. The casteist mentality in the state remains largely unchanged, which poses a challenge for the BSP's electoral strategy.
In her remarks, Mayawati also took a moment to honour the legacy of her party's founder, Kanshi Ram, whose death anniversary coincided with her press conference.
She emphasised the importance of young party members understanding his inspiration from the life and work of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, a prominent social reformer and advocate for Dalit rights. She reiterated that Kanshi Ram dedicated his life to advancing the cause of social justice and equality, a mission that the BSP continues to uphold.
As for the broader election results, the Congress party failed to leverage the significant anti-incumbency sentiment that had built against the BJP over the past decade.
According to the Election Commission, the BJP emerged victorious in 48 out of 90 assembly seats, while the Congress secured only 37 seats. Independent candidates managed to win three seats, and the INLD claimed two.
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