Profiles of Indian Political Leaders Mayawati

One of the many colorful characters in Indian politics, Mayawati Kumari is leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party and a prominent politician in India's most populous state Uttar Pradesh.

Born in 1956 to a minor government official Prabhu Das and his wife Ram Rathi, Mayawati has been in active politics for well over two decades.

Personal Details

Mayawati belongs to the Dalit community, the former untouchables in the Hindu caste hierarchy. She is a Jatav (Chamar), a sub-caste within Dalits.

Well educated, Mayawati holds multiple degrees including a B.A., a degree in education and a law degree. She worked as a teacher in Delhi for several years.

Prior to her entry into the political arena, Mayawati was keen on becoming an IAS officer, a coveted position in the Indian bureaucracy.

The 51-year politician is unmarried and often referred to by her supporters as Bahenji (sister).

Along the way, Mayawati has shed her oily plaits for short bobbed hair and diamonds.

Political Career

A pugnacious personality, Mayawati owes her political career to her mentor Kanshi Ram, the founder of the BSP.

The BSP's political support base comes primarily from the lower castes and classes, who constitute the majority of Uttar Pradesh, a very backward state in North India.

Mayawati's first key elected office was as a member of the Lok Sabha (Upper House of the Indian Parliament) in 1989. She was elected to the Lok Sabha two more times later.

Mayawati was Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh thrice. On the first occasion, she was Chief Minister from 3 June 1995 - 18 October 1995. When she became Chief Minister, Mayawati was the first Dalit woman to hold that high office in India.

Her second stint as Chief Minister from (21 March 1997 - 20 September 1997) came when her party joined hands with the Hindu nationalist party BJP. But that stint as Chief Minister was also shortlived.

Her third stint as Chief Minister was a little longer - from 3 May 2002-29 August 2003.

Mayawati's principal opponent in Uttar Pradesh politics is Mulayam Singh Yadav, the leader of the Samajwadi Party.

Where political institutions are weak, politics in Indian states like Uttar Pradesh tend to be highly personalized.

So it was no surprise that in 2003 Mayawati's government filed 140 cases filed against Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav, in over 40 districts of the State charging Yadav with misuse of the Chief Minister's Discretionary Fund when he headed the government between September 1995 to May 1996.

Mayawati's brand of politics has attracted attention of political observers far and wide.

Mayawati as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh

3 June 1995 to 18 October 1995

21 March 1997 to 21 September 1997

3 May 2002 to 29 August 2003

13 May 2007 to -

Sources:
The New York Times
Uttar Pradesh Government web site
Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly web site

About my Blog

Hi Everyone !!! Winston Churchill once said "when ever we leave India, It would be ruled by the goons" and looking at present condition of the country and deeds of the political class. The statement is proved true even after 67 years after gaining independence. When an officer halts illegal activity then the ruling class dismisses the officer and dictates to ruling party that if they say anything against the decision then the support of their MP's in Parliament would be taken back. Every person in power rules their people rather then administering efficiently for their upliftment. PreIndependence era was 100 times better wrto law and order, implementation of laws and another merit about British era was that we were much better placed in transport sector in pre independence era, train journey from Ambala cantt to Amritsar took 4 hrs then and it still takes 4 hrs in superfast class of trains....isn't it shameful. In India a major portion of the votes which are given is often purchased by the candidates(who have deep pockets filled with money which they gulped in their last term). Majority of the people put votes by keeping their castes in mind and making as goon win elections(from their own cast), rather then choosing a candidate with clean image. Some percentage of Indian voters are really really foolish(according to me) as we can clearly see around 30 percent of criminals representing people, These criminals would never ever be convicted because as they say "supremacy of parliament should be maintained" and they are above the law. This bloody notion that Parliament is above all other institutions(even the constitution) is helping in shielding the criminals/corrupt people who have reached there by hook/crook and muscle power. The whole bloody system is corrupt, people are sleeping, Political class is doing nothing for country as various initiatives which were good for country like "Hum do hamare do" for controlling population is no more advertised and is informally taken back by the government with the sole reason being that if population is controlled and people start studying till the level when they can understand things good for country then they would root out the present political class, So why hit your own feet with axe. When Politicians follow approach of "Divide and Rule" over people rather then unite them together for the country, Looks like the political class have put country up for sale, everything can be purchased here votes, goons, riots, disharmony, and we are thaught that britishers played "Divide and Rule". I still think that if Britain didn't go bankrupt after second world war then they would have administered us for a longer duration and we would have been technologically ahead by atleast ten years as of now. I still firmly believe this country needs a revolution against corrupt political class, so that we can maintain the rich history we possesed, rather then saying britishers took it all away, whereas actually it's the political class which is taking it all away from the country and selling the country to foreign hands. I somwtimes wonder about why in USA the party which wins the election and forms government is termed as 'Administration' whereas in India we are 'ruled' by the politicians which we elect. God save this country because if some offcial wants to do right he/she is transferred/suspended (for example Ashok Khemka and Durga nagpal), there would be many others which the media class is not paid for to highlight. GOD SAVE THIS COUNTRY from going to the gallows!! JAI HIND!!

Profiles of Indian Political Leaders Mayawati