BSP rout: Kanshi Ram events low key

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 15

Days after drubbing in the Punjab Assembly polls, functions organised by the BSP on the birth anniversary of its founder Kanshi Ram today remained a low-key affair.

Only zonal-level events were held today as all main leaders, including party in-charge Megh Raj, national executive member Avtar Singh Karimpuri and state president Rachhpal Raju had been called to Lucknow for a meeting with party chief Mayawati. Last year, Mayawati had addressed a rally at Nawanshahr on the occasion while even Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal had visited Ropar to meet Kanshi Ram’s family.

The BSP’s vote share, which stood at 16.32 per cent in 1992, 7.48 in 1997, 5.69 in 2002, 4.13 in 2007 and 4.28 in 2012, has now fallen to just 1.5 per cent.

While the party did not contest some hot seats, such as Patiala Urban and Lambi, 110 its 111 candidates lost their security deposits. Karimpuri, who had contested from Phillaur, remained at the fourth position.

The BSP’s vote count came down from 29,638 in Nawanshahr last time to 19,578 this time, from 22,428 to 8,009 at Sham Chaurasi, from 21,492 to 11,874 at Banga, from 18,358 to 6,031 in Garhshankar and from 14,278 in Jalandhar Cantonment to 7,987 this time.

Like earlier instances, this time too three main leaders who moved to new parties won from there. These include Baldev Khaira from Phillaur, ENT doctor Dr Sukhwinder Sukhi from Banga and Hardyal Kamboj from Rajpura (general seat).