India, Oct. 8 -- LUCKNOW Facing an existential political crisis and a heavily eroded voter base, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati has called for a show of strength in Lucknow on October 9 to mark the death anniversary of party founder Kanshi Ram. The rally comes as the party prepares a do-or-die campaign for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections in a bid to regain its lost political footprint.

Party leaders and workers from across the state have been directed to assemble at the Kanshi Ram memorial in Lucknow to pay their obeisance to the Dalit icon.

Six successive electoral debacles (2012, 2017 and 2022 assembly elections and 2014, 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections), desertion of senior leaders and falling vote share from 30...