If there was an early bird prize in politics, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) would win it hands down.
With Lok Sabha elections due in 2014, the BSP has started finalising candidates for the Lok Sabha elections and if sources are to be believed, Ms Mayawati had already finalised over 60 candidates.
“Ms Mayawati has cleared the maximum names for the Lok Sabha seats and she plans to finalise names for all 80 seats by the end of next month. Almost all the sitting MPs have been re-nominated and the party’s district units have been asked to complete the organisation of booth committees, sector office bearers and Vidhan Sabha committees,” said a senior party functionary.
The party members, who will be given responsibility at the booth level, will be selected in consultation with the candidates so that there is no communication gap at any level.
Ms Mayawati knows that the next Lok Sabha elections are extremely crucial for the BSP which faced a total rout in the recent assembly elections. The BSP had won 20 seats in 2009 and wants to double its tally in the next polls.
The BSP is basing its calculations on the fact that by the time the Lok Sabha elections are actually held, the Samajwadi government in Uttar Pradesh will have earned sufficient discredit and the field will be clear for the BSP.
“The Congress and BJP will be unable to revive their party organisation in UP because they are caught up with matters at the national level and with SP only going downhill, the BSP has bright chances of sweeping the Lok Sabha polls in UP,” said a former BSP minister.
According to BSP coordinator and Rajya Sabha member Jugal Kishore, Ms Mayawati has finalised names for most seats in eastern UP.