Collapse of SP-BSP alliance signals end of Mandal politics; Opposition must reimagine its approach to become viable alternative to BJP

In numerous interviews before the Lok Sabha elections, Amit Shah had pointed out that BJP's fortunes in Uttar Pradesh won't take a dip despite the 'caste-and-community-based' SP-BSP alliance because voters have become more empowered and have developed an agency on their own. And he wasn't wrong.