The BSP’s poll strategy is simple. Instead of depending on her trusted kitchen cabinet comprising Naseemuddin Siddiqui, Babu Singh Kushwaha, Ramveer Upadhyay and Swami Prasad Maurya, Mayawati is said to depend on a few old party men, unknown faces for the outside world but who work as a trusted link between the party chief and her officebearers. “These about half a dozen unknown faces surround Mayawati and work as nondescript workers. But they are the ones who directly convey the instructions of the party chief to the office-bearers and coordinators, besides getting direct feedback from the field for the party head”, says a party source.

What has kept the party ahead of the rest of the political outfits, according to party sources, is the poll preparation in advance, unlike other parties that formulate their strategy after the elections are announced. “We are preparing for elections for the last four and a half years through our Bhaichara Committees. For the last six months, community conventions are regularly taking place”, confirms Doongar Ram Gaider, party state president, Rajasthan.

Gaider claims that even the candidates were given the green signal about six months ago — again unlike other parties that declare their candidates at the last moment. Since each member of the party is given clear-cut instructions, there is no overlapping, party sources claim. In her campaign for the Assembly polls, Mayawati has changed the party slogan from “Jitni jiski sankhya bhari, utni uski bhagidari” to “Jitni jiski taiyari, utni uski bhagidari”. Her focus is on preparation, and not on numbers.