Naresh Kumar Gautam reappointed BSP president in Uttarakhand

Naresh Kumar Gautam has been reappointed as the state president of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttarakhand. This is his second time in this role. The party hopes to strengthen its ties with the public and regain lost influence. Currently, the BSP holds only one seat in the state's assembly. The BSP has struggled in Uttarakhand, changing its state president 17 times in the last 25 years. In the 2002 assembly elections, the party was successful, winning seven seats. However, its support has since declined significantly. In the last election in 2022, the party's vote share dropped to just 4.82%. Gautam, who also oversees the party's Moradabad zone, wants to work at the grassroots level. He aims to rebuild connections with voters. He had previously led the party during the 2022 elections, where BSP candidates won two seats in Haridwar. Despite this past success, the party has faced challenges. After the death of a former MLA, BSP lost the seat in a by-election. Now, its only significant seat is Laksar, held by Mohammad Shahzad. Shahzad believes that many disillusioned voters are returning to the BSP, and he is optimistic about expanding their support under Gautam's leadership.