Mayawati the real winner of the nuclear debate
By Sawraj Singh, MD F.I.C.S

---

Email this page

Print this page

---

The congress party had to make tough compromises with the regional and the smaller parties. The opposition parties accuse the congress party of paying 25 crore Rupees (more than 5 million dollars) to one Member of Parliament to get his vote. All these compromises and deals are going to weaken the congress now and adversely affect the ability to rule properly.

The B.J.P. also lost. It was hoping that if the congress loses then B.J.P. would come in power. Advani, the B.J.P.leader, was almost certain that he was going to be the next Prime Minister. However, now it looks that Mayawati is more likely to be the next Prime Minister.

The experience of the last 60 years shows that whichever party controls the U.P., that party usually controls the center also. The U.P. is the largest state of India and sends the maximum number of members of Parliament. Moreover the U.P. is a miniature India. There is a very diverse population. People belong to many different castes and there is a very large Muslim population.

Mayawati has expanded the base of the B.J.P. in the U.P. while all other major parties have lost their base there. The congress party had already lost its base in the U.P. to the Samajwadi party. The Muslims used to vote for the congress but then they started voting for the Samajwadi party. Now the Samajwadi party will lose its Muslim followers to the B.S.P. By supporting the nuclear treaty with the U.S., the samajwadi party has alienated most of the Muslim voters.

Advani made it clear that he was not opposed to India’s close relation with the U.S. and he was also not opposed to the nuclear treaty with the U.S. He just wants to revise the treaty. Mayawati, on the other hand, completely opposed the treaty as well as an alliance with the U.S. She said that if the treaty is signed then the U.S. and Israel will attack Iran and the Indian government could be held responsible for this. With such statements she has won over many Muslims thereby eroding the bases of the congress as well as the Samajwidi party.

Mayawati reached an understanding with Ajit Singh, the leader of the Jaat community. This will really broaden her base in the U.P. as well as in the neighboring states. Before the nuclear debate, Mayawati was mostly perceived as a leader of the U.P. but now she has become a national leader. The left has started taking her seriously. Even the leaders of the T.D.P. and Dev Gaura have recognized her as a national leader. She has become a very serious candidate for the Prime Minister ship.

I feel that the nuclear debate has weakened both the largest parties as well as the two party system in India. This debate has strengthened the regional and the smaller parties. The conditions for the emergence of a third front have never been better in India. Mayawati may become the leader of the emerging strong third front. Dalits are becoming a formidable force.