Mayawati – BSP President and CM of Uttar Pradesh

Mayawati (Hindi: मायावती) (born 15 January 1956) is the CM of Uttar Pradesh,India(4th term)She heads the ''Bahujan Samaj Party''  which represents the Bahujans or Dalits, the weakest strata of Indian society.


Personal Profile

Mayawati did 3 degrees – B.A from Kalindi Women's College ;LLB(LAW) Law faculty, Campus Law Centre under the University of Delhi and B.Ed  from VMLG College, Ghaziabad
Mayawati was part of Kanshi Ram's team when he founded the Bahujan Samaj Party(BSP)  in 1984.
Mayawati won election to the Lok Sabha for the first time in 1989, from Bijnor.
Mayawati at the age of 39 became the youngest CM of U P(in office June 3,1995 -Oct 18,1995) and the 1st Dalit Woman CM of India in 1995.
Mayawati again became CM of U P in 1997(in office March 21,1997 -Sep 21,1997) and in 2002(in office May 02,2002 -Aug 29,2003) when BSP formed a coalition with BJP.
Mayawati was named as his successor by BSP President  Kanshi Ram in 2001.
Mayawati won the 2007 assembly elections with majority - the first since 1991 and sworn in as CM of U P for the 4th time on May 13,2007.Mayawati's campaign was accompanied by a colourful 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"


Political Growth and Controversy

Mayawati's rise in politics has been phenomenal considering her humble background.However,she has attracted considerable controversy  -
Mayawati's supporters have declared her birthday(Jan 15) as Jan Kalyankari Diwas (People's Welfare Day)
rise in personal wealth(she is India's richest CM at 87 crores)described as indicators of corruption
In 2003 the CBI raided Mayawati's residence in relation to the Taj corridor case, two days after it had filed an FIR  against her.This led to discovery of assets disproportionate to her known income.
Mayawati's assets run into millions with several properties to her name.For 2007-08 AY Mayawati paid 26 Crores as Income -tax and rank among top 20 taxpayers in India.
pulling down a stadium to build a monument to leaders of her party,including herself which is seen arbitrary and whimsical