 "Mayawati blows poll bugle with huge rally")
The rally was a virtual show of strength by the dalit czarina amidst the changing political landscape marked by the arrival of Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on the scene and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi being the preferred choice for the top post according to pre-poll surveys.
In her message to party cadres, Mayawati made it clear that BSP, contrary to media reports, was not mulling any pre-poll alliance with the Congress.
In the backdrop of Muzaffarnagar communal riots and the sufferings of victims in camps, Mayawati had announced not to celebrate her birthday in a grand style.
Addressing the rally, she trained guns on opposition parties, including AAP, whom she termed as anti-dalit and anti-minority in character.
Mayawati termed AAP’s populist announcements on power and water issues as mere gimmicks. She claimed her previous regime in UP had been providing power at much cheaper rates to rural folks as well as the urban poor.
She noted the dalit community had little representation, which remained as neglected elsewhere as in Haryana, the home state of Kejriwal.
In 2009 general election, BSP had won 20 seats in the state, while on 45-odd seats, its candidates had secured second position.
The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister blamed the ruling Samajwadi Party for the deteriorating law and order and spate of communal riots.
Taking swipe on Modi, she said his promises held little meaning when tribals and dalits in Gujarat were living in pitiable condition.
She also flayed the economic and foreign policies of the Congress, though she refrained from naming Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. However, she maintained if Congress had fulfilled even 50 per cent of its poll promises since independence, there would have been remarkable improvement in the living conditions of people.