The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is gearing up for a significant rally in Lucknow on October 9, 2025, fueling speculation about Mayawati's potential resurgence in Uttar Pradesh politics. The rally, planned to coincide with the death anniversary of BSP founder Kanshi Ram, is being viewed as a crucial event for the party to revitalize its base and showcase its strength.

A Show of Strength

The BSP aims to mobilize a massive crowd, with some leaders setting a target of five lakh attendees, underscoring the party's intent to demonstrate its continued relevance in the state. The rally is expected to serve as a morale booster for party workers and send a message to political rivals that the BSP remains a force to be reckoned with in Uttar Pradesh. To ensure a high turnout, the party has instructed each assembly constituency to arrange 50 buses to transport supporters to the venue.

Mayawati will address party workers at the Kanshi Ram Memorial, which is considered an inspiration for the party cadre, to motivate them. The party hopes to use the rally to set the stage for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly election and the 2029 Lok Sabha polls.

Efforts to Regain Lost Ground

The BSP has been actively working to regain its footing in Uttar Pradesh after experiencing a decline in recent elections. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the party failed to win any seats in Uttar Pradesh. In the 2022 assembly polls, it secured only one seat.

In an effort to strengthen the party, Mayawati has hinted at welcoming back former leaders who had left the BSP in recent years, in a "ghar wapsi" campaign. In a related move, Mayawati recently reinstated Ashok Siddharth, a former MP and the father-in-law of her nephew Akash Anand, after he publicly apologized for past mistakes. Additionally, the BSP is focusing on strengthening its organization at the grassroots level. Mayawati has appointed Akash Anand as the party in-charge of the upcoming Bihar assembly election, where the BSP has decided to contest independently.

Challenges and Strategies

Mayawati has cautioned party workers about emerging challenges in the political, social, and economic landscape, including attempts to disrupt social harmony by targeting religious places and figures. She has urged governments to abandon "hateful politics" and take strict legal action to maintain peace. She has also criticized the central government's handling of economic issues, including trade tariffs.

To counter the BJP's dominance, some observers suggest that forming stable, long-term alliances with opposition parties like the Samajwadi Party and Congress could be beneficial. It has been suggested that the party needs to modernize its outreach strategies, leveraging social media and directly engaging younger voters, particularly within its Dalit support base.

Mayawati has however reaffirmed her strategy to go solo in the 2027 UP assembly polls. She said that the BSP is a party that works independently and follows the principles of "Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay" (the welfare and happiness of all).

The October 9 rally will be a significant test of Mayawati's ability to mobilize her base and revitalize the BSP. Whether it marks the beginning of a genuine comeback remains to be seen, but the event is undoubtedly a crucial step in the party's efforts to regain its lost ground in Uttar Pradesh politics.