At BSP’s show of strength in Lucknow, Mayawati thanks BJP-led U.P. govt., targets SP

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Thursday said her party will fight the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections on its own, portraying herself as the sole flag bearer of Dalit and marginalized sections as she seeks to become the Chief Minister for the fifth time.

Addressing a rally on the 19th death anniversary of BSP founder Kanshi Ram in Lucknow, Ms. Mayawati also asked party workers to extend full support to the national coordinator and her nephew Akash Anand. “Just as BSP members across the country stood by me during and after Kanshi Ramji’s life, they must now stand by Akash in every situation and give their full support,” he said.

Ms. Mayawati also thanked the Yogi Adityanath-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for keeping its promise to maintain parks and monuments related to Dalit icons built during the BSP rule and attacked the previous Samajwadi Party (SP) government for neglecting these icons. “Them [SP] “They have not managed to spend a single rupee for their maintenance,” he said.

The BSP chief accused the SP of co-opting Dalit icons in its “quest for power” and said Dalits, Other Backward Classes and the Muslim community should not fall prey to the SP’s political tactics.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav responded to this and hinted that there was a secret agreement between the BJP and BSP. “They are grateful to the oppressors because the collusion within them continues,” he wrote on X, without naming anyone. Addressing a press conference, Mr. Yadav also said that in today’s political conditions, the PDA – Pichhda (backward classes), Dalits and Alpsankhyak (minorities) – Dr. He said that it should be strengthened by following the path shown by Bhimrao Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram.