Mayawati

On 14 April 2010 Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi launched the Congress’ biggest campaign to revive it in UP. The date was carefully chosen, Ambedkar Jayanti, because he was trying to win over Dalit votes in UP. The support base of Congress in UP was made up of a rainbow coalition of Brahmins, Muslims and Dalits. The Congress has to woo these communities again […]

One of the burning ambitions of Mayawati has been to create grand memorial public parks to commemorate the Dalit movement and its leaders like Baba Saheb Ambedkar, Jyotiba Phule, E.V.R. Natka Periyar and of course, Kanshiram and Mayawati herself. It has been her cherished dream for whatever reason. In June 1995 when Mayawati became the

Money collection, fund raising and amassing of wealth has kept Mayawati ever under attack from her detractors and opponents. Fund raising has been one of the passions of Mayawati. She had made her birthdays the events for raising huge funds for her BSP mission. Mayawati openly asked for the monetary gifts from party workers and

Dalit issues should not be viewed as concerns of Mayawati and Dalits only. Even after Mayawati becoming CM and BSP gaining power the Dalits at ground level suffers some tragic fate as before. The persecution of Dalits continue, the exploitation goes on, they are still untouchables, temples are barred for them, they are beaten and

The social engineering, a political strategy devised by Mayawati is a kind of political snakes and ladders game. According to a political observer—‘In UP assembly polls BSP got only 9.41 percent of the total votes polled which infact was the lowest of all the four major political parties in 1989. But 18 years later, in

Before 2009 Lok Sabha polls the popularity chart of BSP supremo Mayawati was soaring high. She had become a national leader of a high stature and an international figure. The world was curiously watching the rise of an untouchable to an amazing height in the country bogged down in casteism even in 21st century. It

After assuming power Mayawati began to address her constituencies in deed. A section of traders (bania) had supported Maywati and she felt duty bound to do something for them in thanks. She took at least three dozen steps to ease the problems of the traders and provide them some long needed facilities.The steps related to

In the renewed rise of Mayawati, Satish Mishra had played a big role especially in bringing other sections of the society to Dalit base of BSP. He helped in easing up Taj Corridor pressure on Mayawati. He also had helped Mayawati in poll campaigns and planning. He had become right hand man of Mayawati and

Mayawati started her electoral political journey in 1984 General Elections from Kairana, distt. Muzaffarnagar in UP. In the following lines about her electoral career is given for readers’ benefit in brief. In 1984 Lok Sabha elections Mayawati polled 44,445 votes against Akhtar Hasan (Cong.) in Kairana constituency. She contested as an independent candidate. In 1985

BSP had defeated BJP in UP in the elections of 2004 and it was a pointer that it surely was moving in the direction that led to the throne of Lucknow. It gave Mayawati immense satisfaction when BJP got decimated in UP because she had declared that her primary goal was to destroy the communal

BSP was satisfied over its performance and BJP was licking its wounds. SP was working up options and looking for opportunities. It wanted to grab power.Just then Gujarat communal riots broke out and entire nation was anguished and grief stricken. Hindu communalists massacred Muslims. In its background Mayawati and BJP got tossed together. They were

In 1999 Kanshiram and Mayawati were preparing for the mid-term Lok Sabha polls necessitated by the fall of BJP government at centre led by A.B. Vajpayee. Congress had tried to cobble up a government but failed. It was also in no better shape. Mayawati’s dream of coming to power in UP with the help of

Mayawati was very pained and angered to the oppression and brutalies against the Dalits in Bihar. Dalits were being butchered and their homes were being razed. Ranbir Sena was carrying out the barbaric campaign against Dalits.Mayawati demanded ‘President’s Rule’ in Bihar. RJD under Lalu Prasad Yadav was ruling that state. Administration had failed to protect

In 1998 Lok Sabha polls BJP and SP did better than BSP. BJP bagged 57 seats and SP 20 seats. BSP could save on 4 out of 6 it earlier held. Congress could not win even a single seat and it was totally wiped out.Rise of BJP and SP in UP was bad news for

Struggles have been a part of the life of Mayawati at family level and political level as well. It made her a battler of indomitable spirit. Weak willed fall down to challenges while the determined ones come out of them stronger than before.The follower of Buddha, Baba Saheb Ambedkar was a living example of the