BSP banks on Brand Maya

For Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), this year's elections are not just about unemployment, inflation and local issues. More than offering solution to the electorate's problems and setting up agenda for development of the city, the BSP candidates are promoting 'Brand Mayawati' to Delhiites.

For Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), this year's elections are not just about unemployment, inflation and local issues. More than offering solution to the electorate's problems and setting up agenda for development of the city, the BSP candidates are promoting 'Brand Mayawati' to Delhiites.

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In election meetings and rallies, the BSP candidates are highlighting the programmes and policies of the two-year-old Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh and promising similar programmes for the country if she is made the prime minister.

“BSP has turned Uttar Pradesh from a goonda pradesh to a crime-free state. Behenji Mayawati is the strongest leader in the country who puts her own MPs and MLAs behind bars if they are found involved in crime. The country needs a PM like her,” BSP Delhi state president Brahm Singh Bidhuri said.

The candidates list various policies started by the party in Uttar Pradesh in their corner meetings and ask for votes on party's ideology and party chief Mayawati.

“We have given good governance in Uttar Pradesh. Our government in UP has come up with several schemes for the poor, unemployed and young girls. It has given houses to over three lakh poor people in UP. Young girls are being given scholarships to carry on their higher education. We are promoting her as the next Prime Minister of India,” said Mohammad Yunus, party's candidate from East Delhi.

According to BSP candidates, a large potion of BSP's vote share in Delhi comprise of migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar who have settled down in Delhi. Neglected by previous governments and elected representatives this migrant population can easily relate with Mayawati.

"We substantiate our speech with examples. In Delhi, the government bought a housing scheme for the poor and sold lakhs of forms but didn't do anything. In UP, Mayawati gave houses for three lakh people for just Rs 7,500 each. The electorate understands these issues and knows that to fulfill its dream of a house in Delhi, there has to be a leader like Mayawati in the government," said Bidhuri.