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Mayawati (Template:Lang-hi) (born 15 January 1956) is an Indian politician. She is the current Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state. After three short tenures between 1995 and 2003, it is her fourth term in this office. Her supporters refer to her as Behen Ji, which means sister. At age 39, Mayawati became the youngest chief minister for Uttar Pradesh and the first Dalit-woman chief minister of any Indian state. She is symbolic of the political participation of Dalits. She is widely considered to have amassed wealth accumulated by corruption. There are allegations that she has used her status to amass a large amount of personal wealth. Wikileaks allegations claim she is "obsessed with becoming prime minister" and concerned about her security and assassination attempts.

Personal life

Mayawati was born in New Delhi to mother, Ram Rati and father, Prabhu Das. She is a scheduled caste Hindu Jatav of the Chamar community.

Mayawati holds a degree in arts from Kalindi College of the University of Delhi. She earned a Law (from Delhi University) and Education (from VMLG College, Ghaziabad, Meerut University). She worked as a teacher in Delhi (Inderpuri JJ Colony). She was influenced by the Dalit politician Kanshi Ram with her participation in the founding of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in 1984.

At Kanshi Ram's funeral ceremonies in 2006, Mayawati said they had both been following Buddhist traditions and customs Her act of performing the last rites (Hindi: दाह-संस्कार) of Kanshi Ram has set an example of her and Kanshi Ram's views against gender discrimination. She said that she will convert to Buddhism after getting an absolute majority at the Centre.

Political career

In 1984 Kanshi Ram founded the Bahujan Samaj Party to represent the Dalits and Buddhists. Mayawati was a key member of this organization and was the platform for her entrance into Indian politics.

Lok Sabha elections

Mayawati's chronology for Lok Sabha elections is as follows. All seats were contested on the Bahujan Samaj Party ticket.

-1984 Kairana. Result: Lost.
-1985 Bijnor. Result: Lost.
-1987 Haridwar. Result: Lost.
-1989 Bijnor. Result: Won. (Mayawati's first win.)

The electoral experience provided Mayawati a political presence in Uttar Pradesh.

-In the 1989 Lok Sabha election, the Bahujan Samaj Party won 13 seats. 
-In the 1991 Lok Sabha election, the Bahujan Samaj Party won 11 seats. 

To compensate for the thin spread of Dalits across Uttar Pradesh, Kanshi Ram and Mayawati adopted a strategy of opportunistic coalitions. This approach has since remained integral to the Bahujan Samaj Party's electoral and administrative approach.

In 1995, while a member of the Rajya Sabha (Upper House), she became a Chief Minister in a short-lived coalition government, and validated her position by winning from two constituencies in 1996. She was again Chief Minister for a short period in 1997, and then for a somewhat longer term in coalition with the Bharatiya Janata Party from 2002 to 2003. Before that in 2001 her mentor, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Kanshi Ram named her as his successor.

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Mayawati has said in an interview that she has no time for family life or romantic relationships because she wants to focus on her political career and this is why she remains unmarried. A description that was prepared by a U.S. diplomat and subsequently leaked stated she ran all governmental decisions through her small group of advisors to maintain a "vice-like grip on all levels of power."

2009 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections

Contrary to some poll predictions, BSP won a majority in the 2007 elections, the first such majority since 1991. Mayawati attracted support from Brahmins, Thakurs, Muslims and members of other backward classes. These people voted for a Dalit party for the first time, partly because BSP had offered seats to people from these communities. The campaign was accompanied by a colorful slogan: Haathi nahin, Ganesh hain, Brahma, Vishnu Mahesh Hain: "The elephant (BSP Logo) is really the Lord Ganesha, the trinity of gods rolled into one". Her new slogan invited everyone, including the higher castes, to "come ride the elephant", her party's election symbol.

Chief Minister, 2005

Mayawati was sworn in as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh for the fourth time on 13 May 2007. She announced an agenda that focused on providing social justice to the weaker sections of society and providing employment instead of distributing money to the unemployed. Her slogan is to make "Uttar Pradesh" ("Northern Province") into "Uttam Pradesh" ("Excellent Province").

In 2007 Mayawati's government began a major crackdown on irregularities in the recruitment process of police officers recruited during the previous Mulayam Singh government. So far 17,868 policemen have lost their jobs for irregularities in the recruitment process and 25 IPS officers were suspended for their involvement in corruption while recruiting the police constables. Mayawati is instituting reforms to introduce transparency into the recruiting process, including posting results of selection exams online.

As part of her social reform plans she advocates reservation for the poor among upper castes in addition to reservation for weaker sections of society. Reservation in India is a system whereby a percentage of government positions and seats in all universities are reserved for persons in backward classes and scheduled castes and tribes.

2009 parliamentary elections

The BSP won 20 seats in Lok Sabha from the state of Uttar Pradesh in the 2009 elections. The BSP obtained the highest percentage (27. 42%) of votes in Uttar Pradesh for any one political party. It was in third position in terms of national polling percentage (6.17%).

Political and legal issues

Taj corridor case

In 2003, the CBI raided Mayawati's residence in relation to the Taj corridor case, two days after it had filed an First Information Report against her. This led to discovery of assets disproportionate to her known income.

Birthdays

Mayawati's past birthdays have been major media events, where she appeared laden with diamonds. Her supporters have declared her birthday as Jan Kalyankari Diwas (People's Welfare Day). In 2009, the day was marked by the announcement of welfare schemes targeted towards poor and downtrodden people of the state. Her 2010 birthday was marked by the launch of programmes with a value of over Rs 7,312 crores.

Disproportionate assets case

Mayawati's assets run into millions of dollars with several properties to her name. In 2007–08 assessment year, Mayawati paid an income tax of Rupees 26 crores, ranking among the top 20 taxpayers in the country. Earlier the CBI had filed a case against her for owning assets disproportionate to her known sources of income. Mayawati described the CBI investigation against her as illegal. Her party asserts that her income comes from gifts and small contributions made by party workers and supporters.

Statues

In her tenures as a Chief Minister, Mayawati erected number of statues of Buddhist and Dalit icons like Bhimrao Ambedkar, Shahuji Maharaj, Gautam Buddha, BSP founder Kanshi Ram, and of herself. The statues and the memorial parks in which they are erected are said to have cost the state Rs. 2000 crore. The Supreme Court of India admitted a Public Interest Litigation questioning this expenditure. She maintains that the statues are symbols of Dalit assertion and the expenditure was required because the past governments did not show respect towards Dalit icons, in whose memory nothing was ever built. In February 2010, Mayawati's government approved a plan for a special police force to protect the statues. She feared that her political opponents might demolish the statues. There are incidents of vandalism of statues of Dalit icon Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar in India.

World Bank criticism

The World Bank loaned India funds for development, and Mayawati was to manage projects with this money in UP. The projects were preplanned and on schedule, but the Mayawati government made changes which put the project behind schedule. The World Bank sent a 1 August 2002 letter of complaint to India's central government stating, "We have now learnt that project managers have been replaced within three weeks of assuming office. The project coordinator of the Diversified Agriculture Support Project has been changed twice in quick succession and at the moment there is no project coordinator. In the forestry project, numerous changes have been made over the past six months ... Such developments do not augur well for these time-bound projects that require consistently good leadership."

Other

Kanshi Ram, head of the Bahujan Samaj Party, praised Mayawati at her 47th birthday celebrations for her fundraising activities on behalf of the party. He stated that the party's eventual goal is to gain power in Delhi, and that Mayawati's efforts help in that quest.

Mayawati's public meetings are attended by large audiences, using slogans such as "Kanshi Ram ka mission Adhoora; karegi Behen Mayawati poora" (Kanshi Ram's unfulfilled mission will be completed by Mayawati), "Behenji tum sangharsh karo; hum tumhare saath hain" (Sister, go ahead with your struggle; we are with you).

Books on Mayawati

Many studies have been done on Mayawati and many books have been published, including her autobiographies. One of the first works was journalist Mohammad Jamil Akhter's book, Iron Lady Kumari Mayawati. Her autobiographies are Mere Sangarshmai Jeevan Evam Bahujan Movement Ka Safarnama in three volumes in Hindi, and A Travelogue of My Struggle-ridden Life and of Bahujan Samaj, in English in two volumes. Behenji : A Political Biography Of Mayawati is a biography by veteran journalist Ajoy Bose.

Wikileaks allegations

In confidential US diplomatic cables dated 23 October 2008 and leaked by the Wikileaks website, it was alleged that Mayawati sent an empty private jet to Mumbai to retrieve some sandals. The cables allege that, fearing assassination, she is paranoid about her security, and employs food tasters to guard against poisoning. One of the releases described her as being "obsessed with becoming Prime Minister".

In response to Mayawati's comments, Wikileaks creator Julian Assange said that the documents are genuine, and that if Mayawati has a problem with them, she needs to take their contents up with United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He has asked Mayawati to apologise. Assange, who has been under house arrest in England, says he would "be happy to accept asylum, political asylum, in India—a nation I love. In return, I will bring Mayawati a range of the finest British footwear."

See also

• Bahujan Samaj Party
• Ambedkar Samajik Parivarthan Sthal

References

1. UP CMs & their terms. Retrieved on 30 March 2007.
2. ^ "Ms. MAYAWATI, Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh, Life History: At A Glance (Official Profile of Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh)". upgov.nic.in. 16 July 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
3. "Mayawati in Newsweek's top woman achievers' list".
4. "Mayawati is India's anti-Obama: Newsweek". The Times Of India. 21 April 2009.
5. ^ "Profile: Mayawati Kumari". news.bbc.co.uk. 16 July 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
6. "WikiLeaks: Per Wikileaks expose, Mayawati is documented to have dispatched a jet to retrieve sandals from Mumbai to Lucknow.'".
7. "Mayawati's assets rise from Rs 52 crore to Rs 87 crore in 3 yrs". Times of India. 27 May 2010.
8. Deepak Gidwani. "Mayawati has a treasure trove of gold, jewels, but no car". Daily News and Analysis.
9. ^ "India's Mayawati says 'Wikileaks founder has gone mad'". BBC News South Asia. 6 September 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2011. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
10. ^ http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/oct/16look.htm Mayawati claims Kanshi Ram's Legacy
11. http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/17/stories/2006101705021200.htm Mayawati to embrace Buddhism
12. Dawn.com Mayawati interview Quote: "still, she is clear about her determination to expand her party's national footprint. She said she was so focused on her political career that she has no time for romantic relationships, movies, even extended family. 'That's why I am unmarried,' she said. 'I don't even keep my parents here.'
13. "Wikileaks: India's Mayawati 'sent jet to collect shoes'". BBC News. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
14. "Uttar Pradesh police recruitment scam". News Track India. 1 October 2007. Retrieved 26 June 2008.
15. "12 Uttar Pradesh cops suspended, new recruits lose jobs". www.monstersandcritics.com. 11 September 2007. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
16. Kanchan Gupta (10 April 2010). "To fight Maoists, reform the police". www.dailypioneer.com. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
17. "Mayawati promises justice for all". 20 June 2007. Retrieved 15 February 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |source= ignored (help)
18. List of Winning Candidates
19. "Taj controversy: CBI raids Mayawati's residence". Redff.com. 8 October 2003. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
20. "Evidence found against Maya: CBI". rediff.com. 8 October 2003. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
21. Amrit Dhillon (31 October 2004). "Friend of the poor has rupee fortune". London: Sunday Times website. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
22. "Mayawati to celebrate birthday as 'People's Welfare Day'". www.thaindian.com. 29 December 2009. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
23. PTI (15 January 2010). "The Hindu : States / Other States : Mayawati launches welfare schemes on birthday". Chennai, India: Beta.thehindu.com. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
24. CBI probe in DA case illegal: Mayawati
25. Pradeep Thakur, TNN, 3 Aug 2008, 12.22am IST (3 August 2008). "Mayawati, Shah Rukh among top taxpayers – India – The Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 2 May 2010.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
26. PTI, 17 Mar 2010, 12.40pm IST (17 March 2010). "Defiant Mayawati felicitated with another cash garland – India – The Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 2 May 2010.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
27. Rajiv Ranjan Jha (25 May 2005). /articleshow/1120843.cms "Mayawati adds another 100 feet to her stature". Times of India. Retrieved 13 May 2007. {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help)
28. "Mayawati gets statue-tory warning from SC – Politics – ibnlive". Ibnlive.in.com. 3 February 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
29. memorials-will-not-cost-any-more-money-says-mayawati www.thaindian.com
30. "India minister Mayawati police squad for statues". BBC News. 5 February 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
31. Monica Chadha (5 December 2006). "Despair of the discriminated Dalits". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-9-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
32. "Desecration of Ambedkar statue triggers protests in Uttar Pradesh". Thaindian.com. 13 February 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
33. "Protests in Ghaziabad over damage to Ambedkar statue". Thaindian.com. 25 January 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
34. "Ambedkar statue desecrated, tension in Chhattisgarh village". Thaindian.com. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
35. Tripathi, Purima S. (14–27 September 2002), "Mayawati in double trouble", Frontline, 19 (19)
36. http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jan/16up1.htm Fund collection: Kanshi Ram defends Mayawati
37. 'I will fulfill Kanshi Ram's dream'
38. Kumari Mayawati Ji: BSP, UP Chief Minister Bahan Kumari Mayawati, Bahujan Samaj Aur Uski Rajniti, Mere Sangarshmai Jeevan Evam Bahujan Movement Ka Safarnama, A Travelogue of M...
39. http://uplegassembly.nic.in/MAYAWATI%20BOI%20DATA.htm KUMARI MAYAWATI
40. http://www.penguinbooksindia.com/category/Autobiography_Biography_Memoir/Behenji_9780143066323.aspx Behenji: A Political Biography of Mayawati
41. "TOI: Assange hits back at Mayawati: Send your private jet to collect me". The Times of India. 6 September 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2011. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

External links

• Official biodata
• Bahujan Samaj Party
• "Untouchable" seeks power in Indian election

Timeline

Template:Dalit

Template:Persondata

• Use dmy dates from September 2011
• 14th Lok Sabha members
• 1956 births
• Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh
• Indian women in politics
• Living people
• People from Bijnor
• Bahujan Samaj Party politicians
• Leaders of political parties in India
• Chaudhary Charan Singh University alumni