Uttar Pradesh 2027: Why Mayawati's BSP is reaching out to Muslim voters again

The Bahujan Samaj Party has launched a major initiative to reconnect with Muslim voters in Uttar Pradesh by reviving its Muslim outreach as the party prepares for the 2027 state assembly elections.

A meeting was held in Lucknow today with coordinators from all 18 divisions of Uttar Pradesh to discuss the revival and reorganisation of the Muslim Bhaichara Sangathan. This represents Mayawati’s first such focused engagement with Muslim outreach since the 2022 assembly elections, signalling a renewed commitment to consolidating minority support.

The timing of this initiative is noteworthy. The BSP had fielded 88 Muslim candidates in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, but none won. Similarly, in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the party fielded 37 Muslim candidates without success. Following these electoral setbacks, Mayawati had publicly criticised the Muslim community for not supporting BSP candidates despite the party’s efforts to provide representation.

However, today’s meeting indicates a shift in mood.

Muslim Bhaichara (brotherhood) Committees at the grassroots level are to be strengthened. The distinctive feature of these committees is their composition as each unit comprises one Muslim member and one dalit member working together. This pairing symbolises the party’s strategic vision of forging a dalit-Muslim alliance, creating what the leadership terms a ‘common platform’ for two communities that have been historically marginalised.

A press note issued post the meeting makes extensive reference to the party's ideological foundations, emphasising that the BSP was established to represent ‘Bahujans’ – a term encompassing Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and minorities. The document put out today argues that Muslims are an integral part of this Bahujan identity and that their political empowerment aligns with the party’s founding vision articulated by Kanshi Ram.

The organisation of the committees has already been made operational in Lucknow division, where appointments to these bodies have commenced. The party plans to replicate this structure across all districts and divisions of the state, creating an extensive network to reach Muslim voters directly.

The revival comes after a three-year hiatus during which the BSP had largely abandoned focused Muslim outreach. During this period, Muslim voters increasingly gravitated toward the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance, viewing it as a more effective combination to take on the ruling BJP.

At the party meeting today, Mayawati emphasised that for the social and political advancement of marginalised communities, active participation and electoral support of both dalits and Muslims was required. Such a coalition had previously delivered electoral success to the BSP, particularly during Mayawati's tenure as chief minister from 2007 to 2012.

A key element of the new strategy involves direct engagement with Muslim communities at the village and neighbourhood level. The party has directed its district and divisional units to organise meetings, address Muslim grievances, and communicate how BSP’s governance would protect minority rights while ensuring their participation in governance and development processes.

The party has conducted a special exercise to assess its organisational strength and identify gaps in its social coalition. This detailed review apparently highlighted the critical absence of Muslim support as a major factor in recent electoral failures, prompting the current course correction.

This revival of Muslim outreach does not represent an abandonment of the party’s core Dalit base. Both communities will be complementary to the party’s strategy. The paired structure will ensure that both communities feel represented and invested in the party’s success.

The broader context for this initiative is Mayawati’s preparation for the 2027 state elections in which the BSP will try its best to reverse its declining electoral fortunes. The party has been conducting organisational strengthening exercises across the state, including the recent rally on the death anniversary of Kanshi Ram.

The BSP faces challenges in winning back Muslim voters. The Samajwadi Party has consolidated its position as the preferred choice particularly through its alliances and perceived commitment to protecting minority interests. The BSP will need to convince Muslim voters that it offers more effective representation.

The success of this outreach will depend on several factors. These include the on ground effectiveness of the Bhaichara committees. In addition, the party will have to put forth a compelling vision for Muslim political empowerment. Mayawati’s personal credibility on delivering on promises will also play a role.