Unlike the previous Assembly elections, Bahujan Samaj Party is fighting a grim battle for making its presence felt in the last phase of electioneering in Shimla parliamentary constituency.

Party supremo Mayawati may have captured power in Uttar Pradesh on the basis of ‘social engineering’. But in Himachal, denying the party ticket to mass-base leaders, and the failure of the party’s poll managers to manage the campaign well, will tell on BSP’s performance in the Lok Sabha elections.

What added to the woes of BSP was that major leaders severed their ties with the party in Solan and Sirmour districts of the constituency. Manjinder Singh of Paonta in Sirmour joined the Congress, and the recent desertion of Darshan Singh Saini of Doon Assembly segment to BJP further left the party in quandary.

Saini has started a massive campaign in favour of Virender Kashyap of BJP. The party’s favourite formula of ‘social engineering’, and its stance against the Congress and the BJP, appeared to be lost here, with its leaders are struggling to make a foothold in the constituency.

During the Assembly elections, the party had secured over 32,000 votes in Solan, Shimla and Sirmour districts. Out of 32,000 votes, Darshan Singh Saini secured over 8,000 votes in Doon Assembly segment of Solan district. And in the Paonta assembly segment of Sirmour district, Manjinder Singh got around 8,000 votes. The presence of both the leaders had resulted in the defeat of the Congress candidates in these constituencies.

This time, the party has fielded Som Nath as its candidate. But it seems unlikely that BSP will be able to come close to its earlier score, and present a triangular contest in the constituency. What’s more, the party’s decision of fielding a new face, sidelining those who initially joined and worked for the party, has lead to infighting.

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