While high-decibel campaigns and star power dominate headlines, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has been methodically strengthening its roots in Nagpur's civic politics. Steering clear of splashy events and viral reels, the party is pursuing a focused, ground-level strategy with an ambitious goal: to significantly boost its numbers in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC).
A Calculated, Concentrated Approach
The party's confidence stems from its performance in the 2017 civic polls, where it emerged as the third-largest party with 10 corporators, trailing only the BJP and the Congress. Instead of contesting seats across the entire city, BSP has adopted a "stick-to-your-strength" tactic. Its core strength lies in North Nagpur, which contributed all 10 of its corporators last time. Party leaders claim the zone has a loyal voter base of around 35,000, a figure drawn from past assembly election results.
This deliberate focus is evident in their candidate selection. Despite having 10 corporators in the outgoing house, BSP has fielded only 82 candidates. In a telling comparison, the NCP(SP), which in its undivided form had just one corporator in 2017, has nominated 79 candidates. Senior BSP leader and poll contestant Uttam Shevade explained this restrained approach is aimed at optimizing resources for winnable seats.
Ideology Over Caste and the Youth Push
Shevade emphasized that the party's Nagpur base is built around ideology rather than strict caste lines. "There is a strong cadre base of BSP in Nagpur which is aligned with our party's ideology. It is not limited to a specific community, but includes everyone who upholds the Indian Constitution at the highest level," he stated.
A significant part of BSP's current momentum is attributed to growing youth engagement. Leaders note that young members are becoming more vocal, using social media to discuss civic issues, share content, and circulate video messages from national leaders to energize the cadre. Former BSP corporator Gautam Patil believes the youth's impatience with the status quo is working in the party's favour. "The youth today wants accountability and transparency. They are disillusioned with BJP and Congress... Through smartphones, they see how other cities and countries function and ask why Nagpur cannot match those standards," Patil said.
Targeting Expansion: From North to South Nagpur
To convert this energy into electoral gains, BSP is working to consolidate its base further. The primary expectation is for significant wins in its stronghold. "In North Nagpur alone, we are confident of winning around 20 seats," claimed Shevade, adding that candidate panels have been set after identifying gaps and making adjustments.
The party has also set its sights on South Nagpur as the next focus area. Shevade pointed out that in the 2017 polls, eight BSP candidates finished second, often by narrow margins. "This time, we expect to win in those seats and in at least 15 other places where our voter base has consolidated," he asserted.
Notably, this campaign is unfolding without the fanfare of nationally known campaigners. While the party's state president is scheduled to visit, and efforts are on to bring a leader from Uttar Pradesh, the effort remains largely local and low-key.
Based on past performance and current calculations, BSP appears well-positioned to retain its third position in the NMC. However, party leaders believe that if their focused strategy pays off, the contest could open up the possibility of an even bigger achievement: moving up to the second spot.
