New Delhi: She sewed the social fabric of Uttar Pradesh together and went out of her way this time to make sure that Brahmins and upper castes were on her side, along with her permanent votebank - the Dalits - and the strategy seems to have reaped rich dividends for BSP supremo Mayawati.
The results, which were out just a few hours after the counting began on Friday morning, are indicating a landslide victory for the BSP, with the Mulayam Singh led Samajwadi Party lagging far behind. The BJP came in third position, while the Congress was a far fourth.
Casting aside her 'anti-Manuvadi' stance - which used to be her pet theme against upper castes - Mayawati ensured substantial number of tickets to Brahmins and also others while keeping her Dalit votebank intact.
The BSP earlier slogan tilak, taraju aur talwar, maro unko jhoote char (beat up Brahmins, Vaishyas and Kshatriyas) was discarded in favour of Haathi nahin Ganesh hai. Brahma,Vishnu, Mahesh hai (it is not elephant but Lord Ganesh, symbolising all Gods and communities). This was probably what worked in UP's new queenmaker's favour.
In fact, the gain for the BSP is in a way loss for the BJP, which had emerged as the champion of the upper castes in the post-Mandal, mandir phase.
Incidentally, BJP has been using the social engineering effectively in the last two decades which had seen its rise from mere two seats in 1984 Lok Sabha polls to power in 1998,leaving aside the '13-day wonder' of 1996.
Mayawati proved her detractors wrong who felt that she would not be able to transfer her Dalit votes to non-Dalit candidates in substantial numbers and that her strategy was a doomed one.
Also helpful for the BSP was the relatively low turnout as its votebank is known for being prompt in exercising their franchise.
Mayawati's strategy in UP from day one of not having any pre-poll alliances also projected the BSP as a serious player out to play the game with a killer instinct. The die was cast.
(With inputs from PTI)
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