Mayawati mulls mandatory dress code for BSP workers amid Party revamp ahead of 2027 UP polls

In a significant move aimed at reinvigorating the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)’s grassroots connect, party chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati is considering implementing a mandatory dress code for party workers—most notably, a blue ‘gamchha’ (towel).

Sources within the party say the idea is gaining traction and could be formally announced on October 9, the death anniversary of BSP founder Kanshi Ram.

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The symbolic blue gamchha, long associated with Dalit assertion and the BSP’s identity, may soon become a uniform emblem for workers across the state, as the party prepares to launch its ‘Mission 2027’ to reclaim political ground in Uttar Pradesh.

This development comes at a time when the BSP is grappling with an existential crisis. Once a dominant force in UP politics, the party has witnessed a sharp decline in its electoral performance over the past decade.

With the 2027 state assembly elections on the horizon, Mayawati is strategically attempting to re-energise her cadre and reconnect with the core Dalit vote base while extending outreach to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Muslims.

On the other hand, Mayawati is expected to kickstart her revival campaign with a massive public rally in Lucknow on October 9, which will double as a memorial for Kanshi Ram and the launchpad for the BSP’s comeback strategy. Alongside the likely announcement of the dress code, the event will showcase the party’s new roadmap, candidate selection framework, and grassroots mobilisation tactics.

The BSP chief has also been holding a series of closed-door meetings with top leaders, forming new committees, and directing cadre camps across districts. These camps aim to strengthen booth-level infrastructure, identify potential candidates for the upcoming panchayat elections, and facilitate the induction of local influencers and defectors from other parties.

By reviving the symbolism of Kanshi Ram and introducing visible markers like a uniform dress code, Mayawati is betting on unity, discipline, and identity politics to revive BSP’s relevance in a politically polarised Uttar Pradesh.

Whether this will be enough to reposition the BSP as a formidable third front between the BJP and Samajwadi Party remains to be seen.