Bulandshahr: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Wednesday launched its campaign for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, with national coordinator Akash Anand addressing his first election rally in the state at Anoopshahr in Bulandshahr district.
At a rally at a stadium in Khalor village of Jahangirabad, Anand announced Manoj Pradhan, who recently joined the BSP after leaving the BJP, as the party’s candidate from Anoopshahr.
Beginning his speech with the slogan “Jai Bhim”, Anand recalled the contributions of BSP founder Kanshi Ram and Mayawati, saying they had dedicated their lives to the party and the cause of social justice. He said Mayawati had advised him to place the party’s mission above family interests and added that he would work to strengthen the BSP and help it return to power. Referring to the free ration scheme, Anand said the vision of Dr BR Ambedkar was to make people self-reliant and appealed to young voters to support the BSP.
He also declared Mukesh Pandit as the party’s nominee from Shikarpur constituency. Addressing supporters gathered amid blue flags and caps, Anand urged them to bring the BSP back to power and make party chief Mayawati the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh for a fifth term. Anand targeted the BJP, Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress over inflation, unemployment, alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations and the law-and-order situation. He accused the BJP govt of failing to provide employment to young people and burdening households with rising prices. Targeting SP chief Akhilesh Yadav over the party’s PDA slogan — referring to Pichhda, Dalit and Alpsankhyak — Anand alleged that the party was trying to attract the Bahujan community despite its past policies. He also referred to the renaming of districts during previous SP govts. He criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the party’s record on reservation and its role during protests by young people. Anand accused the Congress and BJP of pursuing policies that had failed to address the concerns of marginalised communities.