LUCKNO, Oct. 10 -- : Amid a strong presence of young supporters and leaders, a generational shift was noticeable at the Bahujan Samaj Party rally in Lucknow on Thursday to mark the 19th death anniversary of party founder Kanshi Ram. There were thousands of young faces in the huge crowd that assembled for the event even as the city was adorned with blue flags and posters, symbolising the BSP's strong presence on the day. Baghpat-based Saurabh Kumar, 28, a lawyer, was attending his first big political programme in Lucknow. Unlike many others, he was not brought to the rally but chose to drive his car all the way from his hometown in West UP. Govind Jatav, a 23-year-old farmer from Ambedkarnagar in east UP, was also a first-time participant at a political rally on this scale. Ever since they became voters, the BSP has been an Opposition party for these two youngsters. But they are fascinated by what they see as the BSP's glorious past and stories from the time when Mayawati, popularly known as Behanji among the party supporters, called the shots as the chief minister. In keeping with the advent of the next generation, Mayawati projected her nephew and the BSP's national convenor Akash Anand as the heir apparent. The event signalled a new era for the party over 41 years after Kanshi Ram had backed Mayawati as a young leader after laying the party's foundation on April 14, 1984. The crowd - comprising students, daily-wage labourers, professionals, sanitation workers, farmers and other marginalised groups - began arriving early in the morning, many of them having travelled long distances and at their own expense across the state. For them, the party's national convenor Akash Anand was worthy of admiration. Many described him as a "firebrand leader" capable of mobilising the youth and rekindling the BSP's earlier momentum. Sameer Kumar, an unemployed graduate, said, "The PDA formula excludes more than it includes. What we need is a party that speaks of dignity and representation, not fractured alliances." Similarly, Chander Kumar, a student from Jehta in Lucknow, spoke of Mayawati with reverence. "She is a messiah for us. She made us feel proud of who we are. Whatever she says, we will follow," he said. Ramdhan, a lekhpal from Prayagraj, said, "We came here pooling our own money. Our camp has been here since Wednesday night. We're even ready to skip meals to fund our party." Dharamraj from Ballia said confidently, "The BSP will return to power in 2027. Those who tried to write us off should take a good look today.This crowd will show the power and determination of Bahujan Samaj." Ram Ganesh from Orai, who arrived two days early with 200 people from his area, summed up the sentiment: "We are here to show our loyalty. The BSP may have been quiet for a while, but our support is as deep as ever." Veteran partyman and former pradhan from Sultanpur's Jaisinghpur block Surya Prakash Kannuajiya (59) said the BSP event saw an overwhelming turnout with at least 30-35% youngsters between the age group of 18 to 35 years. As early as 4 am, supporters like Surya Prakash Kannaujiya, a former pradhan from Sultanpur, set off for Lucknow, travelling long distances on motorcycles and buses to reach the venue. He was accompanied by 60 others from his village, showcasing the party's grassroots support....