Yet, at a fundamental level, a powerful exceptionalism still sustains and invigorates the BSP. It’s a deeply-felt sense of “difference”. We are not like the BJP-Congress, BSP workers will tell you. The BSP is a “mission” not a party, they say.

It is sometimes a secret mission. During the last round of assembly elections, a senior BSP minister in UP confirmed to this paper the existence of party spies or “observers” who tail BSP candidates in all states and send daily reports to Lucknow.

The question is this: What sort of redefinition will it take to drain the exceptionalism that drives the BSP but isolates it too? And can the BSP survive the redefinition?

This birthday and even the impending Lok Sabha election are minor milestones. Mayawati has surpassed the achievements of her mentor, but she must know that the BSP’s journey still lies ahead.

vandita.mishra@expressindia.com