http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/centre-not-letting-uttar-pradesh-progress-mayawati-25270.php?u=1433
Centre not letting Uttar Pradesh progress: Mayawati
NDTV Correspondent, Thursday May 13, 2010, Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati completes three years in power today.
Speaking at a press conference in Lucknow, the minister slammed the
Centre saying the Congress is not letting Uttar Pradesh progress.
(Watch what Mayawati said)
Three years of Mayawati rule in UP is the 54-year-old BSP leader's
fourth stint as Chief Minister. (Mayawati's three years in pics |
Watch)
When she was sworn in on May 13, 2007, she had a complete mandate
having been voted in by an overwhelming majority in a state where the
only political reality had been 17 years of fractured coalitions.
Her much-talked-about social engineering, which saw the coming
together of Dalits and Brahmins for the first time in history, ensured
she had a simple majority in the state. Such a mandate also meant that
Mayawati could finally build the memorials of Dalit icons, including
her own, that she had always wanted. That these memorials cost nearly
Rs 6,000 crore saw other parties up in arms.
Archrival Mulayam Singh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party, who has only
seen political downslides since Maywati's spectacular ascent, has
promised that when comes to power, he will raze these memorials. But
hundreds of Dalit labourers working on Mayawati's dream projects have
supported these manifestations of identity politics. Even the Dalit
unskilled labour working tirelessly to build these massive icons have
said they are proud to be associated.
But two years into her reign, it was time for a reality check. The Lok
Sabha elections of 2009. Mayawati put up 80 candidates in the fray.
She had conquered the state, her eyes were now firmly set on the
national stage. In the midst of talk of the return of a Third Front
after the expected Left-Congress divorce, Mayawati saw a shining
future armed as she would be with a bagful of seats from the biggest
state. Mayawati as Prime Minister was a thought that did cross some
minds.
But UP had other thoughts. The Congress, buoyed by the Rahul Gandhi
factor, was back in the reckoning winning more seats than anyone had
anticipated and putting paid to Mayawati's plans.
It was a wake-up call. Less than half her term had elapsed yet and
cracks were evident in her vote base. Mayawati knew it was time to go
back to the drawing board to ensure that every Dalit vote came back to
her.
And it did, when the BSP swept the by-elections in November 2009. The
BSP had recovered less than six months after the disappointment.
Mayawati then proved the Lok Sabha elections were a temporary blip,
sweeping the Legislative Council elections. A sweet present for her
birthday two days later.
And then, controversy struck. At a party rally this year, Mayawati was
presented a garland made of 1,000 rupee notes in front of a gathering
of five lakh people, most of who can barely afford one square meal.
There have been other controversies, not least over her penchant for
building large monuments to honour herself. But if there has been one
constant in Mayawati's political career, it is controversy. Not least
for her indulgences on her lavish birthday parties. Her favouring
pastels in clothing, her fondness for jewellery, including large
glittering diamonds, her larger-than-life birthday cakes have all
caught the eye of critics who then question her claiming to represent
poor Dalits.
But she has built the edifice of her political success without letting
controversy come in the way of her single-minded focus. If anything
she has been dismissive.
For Kumari Mayawati as she prefers to be known and Behen Ji as she is
addressed by partymen and followers, has long had a USP. The
groundswell of Dalit support which can negate any other political
consideration on its day. She is an icon for millions of India's
Dalits and often throws her being "the daughter of a Dalit" in the
face of Opposition.
Mayawati was born in Delhi on 15 January 1956. Her father worked as a
clerk. Mayawati graduated from Kalindi College in Delhi University and
then became a teacher. She also holds a law degree.
Her political career began when she joined Dalit leader Kanshi Ram,
who became her mentor. Kanshi Ram founded the Bahujan Samaj Party in
the early 1980s and it was obvious very soon who his political heir
was. The climb has largely been a steady upward graph since, though
Mayawati has seen her share of setbacks.
In two years, Mayawati shall face the electoral test yet again. She
cannot shut her eyes and pretend any more that Rahul Gandhi is not a
factor. Will it be her earthy charisma that shall prevail or the
backlash of controversy?
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