Rahul Gandhi questioned why Mayawati, the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), is not contesting elections effectively. He expressed disappointment that the BSP has not allied with Congress and the Samajwadi Party against BJP, suggesting a united front could have changed election outcomes. Mayawati responded, accusing Congress of harboring animosity and a casteist attitude towards the BSP, especially in Congress-dominated states, while presenting a deceptive alliance approach in Uttar Pradesh. She emphasized that the BSP’s alliances have often led to losses, as their voter base is not reciprocated.
Lucknow:
“Behenji (Mayawati) abhi chunaav theek se kyun nahi lad rahi hai (Why is Mayawati not contesting elections properly these days?)” Rahul Gandhi posed to a group of Dalit students in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday.
In response to this accusation, Mayawati, who was the first Dalit chief minister of UP, claimed that the Congress party exhibits “animosity and a casteist attitude” towards her party, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
“In states where Congress is strong or in power, there exists animosity and a casteist mindset towards the BSP and its supporters. Conversely, in UP, where Congress is weak, they engage in misleading discussions of forming an alliance with the BSP. If this is not a double standard, then what is?” Ms. Mayawati expressed on X.
Rahul Gandhi, who is visiting his parliamentary constituency Raebareli for two days, began his remarks by complimenting the former Chief Minister before interjecting with a pointed question.
“Ye toh kehna padega ki Kanshi Ram ji ne neev rakhi aur Behenji ne kaam kiya, ye toh main bhi manta hoon. Magar ek sawaal hai mera, Behenji aajkal chunaav theek se kyun nahi lad rahi (I must acknowledge that Kanshi Ram ji laid the groundwork and Behenji continued the work. I agree with this. But I have a question: why is Behenji not contesting elections properly lately?” Rahul Gandhi, 54, asked the Dalit students at the ‘Mool Bharti’ hostel near Bargad Chauraha.
छात्रों के बीच जननायक
📍 रायबरेली pic.twitter.com/KXS41K9F4K
— UP Congress (@INCUttarPradesh) February 20, 2025
“Hum chahte the Behenji BJP ke virodh main hamare saath lade magar Mayawati ji kisi na kisi karan nahi ladi. Hume toh kaafi dukh laga kyunki agar teeno party ek ho jaati toh BJP chunvaav kabhi nahi jeeti (We wanted Behenji to join us in the fight against BJP, but Mayawati ji did not join for various reasons. I was quite saddened because if all three parties (including the Samajwadi Party) had united, the BJP would never have won the elections),” Mr. Gandhi emphasized.
The Congress contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in coalition with Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party, winning six and 37 seats, respectively, which impacted the BJP’s seat count. The BSP ran in 79 seats, garnering 9.4 percent of the votes but secured no seats.
Ms. Mayawati, 69, noted that whenever the BSP has participated in elections with the Congress, her party’s core voters have supported them, yet the same support has not been returned.
As a result, Ms. Mayawati remarked, the BSP has consistently faced electoral setbacks.
“In any scenario, the actions, character, and face of the Congress and BJP have been vehemently opposed to Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, his followers in the BSP, and their Dalit-Bahujan supporters, along with issues related to reservations. Consequently, the nation remains significantly behind in fulfilling the egalitarian and welfare objectives of the Constitution, which is concerning,” stated Ms. Mayawati.