Maya makes a calculated move
If the resignation of BSP chief Mayawati just before the end of her term as Rajya Sabha MP is any indication, the firebrand has started to save her political relevance. Though the decision had reportedly come after she was asked to cut short her impromptu speech on alleged Dalit atrocities, she, in fact, has started to explore the options available to her. Tactically, Mayawati announced her decision to return to combative politics from a platform that ensured maximum spotlight and on an issue that seeks to guard her core constituency.
In her calculation, resignation on live television would have a greater impact than a quiet retreat from a House where her term was in any case due to end in April 2018. She also assessed that little would have been achieved by continuing to be a member of the Rajya Sabha. The fact that Mayawati has also chosen a high moral ground indicates that she is attempting to secure prime position among anti-BJP forces. The arguable point, however, is whether this trick is going to bear fruit or lead to her further marginalisation, presaging the end of her legislative career. For this Dalit stalwart, unless she is able to take her party back on centre stage, the future is nothing more than gloomy as she lost successive Assembly polls in 2012 and 2017 and her party could not secure a single seat in Lok Sabha in the 2014 elections. Her dramatic resignation is an effort to make a fresh beginning with 2019 in mind. But for her resignation to yield any electoral dividend, she has to hit the ground immediately and return to the field. She needs to reason out that Opposition parties do not have the license to obtain anything from their numbers.
That privilege is restricted for the ruling party because gestures like nominating members of deprived communities for key posts can be backed by government policies and programmes. Sidelining her 'unparalleled ego', Mayawati would always have to remember that on her own, she can never be able to pose much of a challenge to BJP in 2019. She can take the help of rivals SP and bury political differences till 2019 Lok Sabha polls. It seemed impossible, but a similar decision was taken by RJD and JD (U) to join hands against the BJP.
Even the Congress joined in, keeping in mind the larger opponent. However, there is a lot of bad blood between Mayawati and the SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav. A similar conundrum faces former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav too and if the two parties join hands, Mayawati could go to Rajya Sabha. However, if Akhilesh Yadav chooses the route for himself then she would have to seek another way. If she indeed gets the support, it could prove the key to save her political relevance at a time when the BJP juggernaut tramples every opponent in its path. Nevertheless, her opening move indicates that the decision of tendering papers was based on past trends that parties in power have been unable to retain the same extent of support in successive elections.
