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Kanshi Ram in front - an editorial - Indian Express - an editorial

Posted By ashok (ashokvc@giasbm01.vsnl.net.in)
25 June 1996

Title : Kanshi Ram in front
Publication : Indian Express - an editorial
Date : June 25, 1996

IRRESPECTIVE of the durability of the alliances that the
BSP is forging or their electoral prospects, what is
clear is that Kanshi Ram has emerged as much more of a
major figure than it would have been thought possible at
the beginning of the year. After the collapse of
the Mayavati Government, for instance, it was believed
that the BSP supremo had blown his chances by his
opportunistic tie-ups with erstwhile political
adversaries. But after the UP verdict showed that the
BSP's voting percentage has gone up from 1 1.3 in 1993
to 20.6, virtually the same as that of its former
partner,' the Samajwadi Party, Kanshi Ram has emerged as

the new arbiter of UP politics.

Little wonder that he has said that "everyone - Narasimha

Rao, Vajpayee, Sharad Yadav - is running after me". True
to his style, Kanshi Ram is not squeamish about
spelling out his preference about his ally being
"weak" and "dependent on us". Whether or not Narasimha
Rao likes the description,it is this less than exalted
position which the Congress is being compelled to
accept. However, given the lowly position to which the is
once natural party of governance in UP has been reduced
in this State, the Congress apparently has no
alternative.

The full impact of this realignment of forces on the non-
BJP front will be known later. But it is clear that none
of the parties will emerge unscathed. Given Kanshi Ram's
strong grip on his followers, the BSP will probably
remain largely unaffected, unlike what happened when its
ties with the SP were snapped, but both the Congress and
the United Front will feel the tremors. While a section
of the Congress will be loath to play second fiddle to
the BSP, the UF's problems will be caused by the mutual
antipathy between Mulayam Singh Yadav and the Kanshi
Ram-
Mayavati duo. The proposed seat adjustments between the
BSP, the Congress and the Janata Dal may not take place
unless Mulayam Singh Yadav distances himself from UP
politics, but the Defence Minister is unlikely to do so
for fear of losing his base. However, he is bound to be
under pressure from his colleagues in the UF like Sharad
Yadav and even Laloo Prasad Yadav to yield ground to
ensure that the non-BJP vote is not divided. Among the
parties which will await the out come of this tussle with
keen interest is the BJP The fact that Atal Behari
Vajpayee called on Kanshi Ram suggests that the party is
not confident of success in UP as it pretends to be.


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