Mayawati

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Kumari Mayawati (born Kumari Mayawati Das;<ref name="Guardian_2009"/> 15 January 1956) is an Indian politician<ref name="cm_profile" /> who served as the 18th Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh from 1995 to 1995, 1997 to 1997, 2002 to 2003 and from 2007 to 2012. She is the national president of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which focuses on a platform of social change for Bahujans, more commonly known as Other Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as well as religious minorities since 2003.

Mayawati had also served as a Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha from 2012 to 2017 from Uttar Pradesh. Mayawati's rise from humble beginnings has been called a "miracle of democracy" by P. V. Narasimha Rao, former prime minister of India.<ref name="Tehelka 2008" /> In 1993, Kanshi Ram formed a coalition with the Samajwadi Party and Mayawati became the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in 1995. She was the first female Scheduled Caste chief minister in India. In 1997 and in 2002 she was chief minister with outside support from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the second time only for a year up to 26 August 2003 due to BJP withdrawing support.<ref name="The Tribune 03">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Mayawati's tenure has attracted praise and criticism. Millions of Dalits across India popularly view her as an icon, and refer to her as Behen-ji (elder sister).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She has been praised for her fundraising efforts on behalf of her party and her birthdays have been widely celebrated by her supporters. On the contrary, the rise in her personal wealth and that of her party have been criticised as indicative of corruption.<ref name="CNN 2012" />

Early life and educationEdit

Mayawati was born as Kumari Mayawati Das<ref name="TOI_Sep2011">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Guardian_2009">Template:Cite news</ref> on 15 January 1956 at Shrimati Sucheta Kriplani Hospital, New Delhi.<ref name="hindudalit1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="hindudalit2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Her father Prabhu Das, was a post office employee at Badalpur village, near Dadri in Gautam Buddha Nagar.<ref name="cm_profile" /> The sons in the family were sent to private schools, while the daughters went to "low-performing government schools".<ref name="Bose 2008" />

Mayawati studied for her B.A. in 1975 at the Kalindi College, University of Delhi and obtained her LL.B. from the prestigious Faculty of Law, University of Delhi in 1983. She completed a B.Ed. from Meerut University's VMLG College, Ghaziabad, in 1976.<ref name="cm_profile" /> She was working as a teacher in Inderpuri JJ Colony, Delhi, and studying for the Indian Administrative Services exams, when Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Other backward castes politician Kanshi Ram visited her family home in 1977. According to biographer Ajoy Bose, Ram told her: "I can make you such a big leader one day that not one but a whole row of IAS officers will line up for your orders."<ref name="Bose 2008" /> Kanshi Ram included her as a member of his team when he founded the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in 1984.<ref name="Singh 2003" /> Mayawati was first elected to Parliament in 1989.<ref name="Al Jazeera" />

Early political careerEdit

Kanshi Ram founded the BSP in 1984. Influenced by B. R. Ambedkar, the party's primary focus is to improve the situation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and other disadvantaged groups through policy reform, affirmative action on hiring of members of scheduled castes for government posts, and providing rural development programmes.<ref name="Singh 2003" /> Reservation in India is a system whereby a percentage of government positions and seats at universities are reserved for persons of backward classes and scheduled castes and tribes. Throughout her political career, Mayawati supported reservation in both government and private sectors for backward classes, with an increase in quotas and inclusion of more communities such as religious minorities and economically weak upper castes.<ref name="IBN Live 2007" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In August 2012 a bill was cleared that starts the process of amending the constitution so that the reservation system can be expanded to promotions in state jobs.<ref name="Hindustan Times August 2012" /> Mayawati's career has been called a "miracle of democracy" by former Prime Minister of India P. V. Narasimha Rao.<ref name="Tehelka 2008" /> Millions of Dalit supporters view her as an icon and refer to her as "Behen-ji" (sister).<ref name="BBC 2009" /> Her public meetings have been attended by large audiences, who use slogans such as "Kanshi Ram ka mission Adhoora; karegi Behen Mayawati poora" (Kanshi Ram's unfulfilled mission will be completed by Mayawati) and "Behenji tum sangharsh karo; hum tumhare saath hain" (Sister, go ahead with your struggle; we are with you).<ref name="Rediff 2006" />

In its first election campaign in 1984, BSP fielded Mayawati for the Lok Sabha (Lower House) seat of Kairana in the Muzaffarnagar district, for Bijnor in 1985, and for Haridwar in 1987. In 1989 she was elected as the representative for Bijnor, with 183,189 votes, winning by 8,879 votes.<ref name="CNN-IBN 1989" /><ref name="Subrahmaniam 2010" /> Although BSP did not win control of the house, the electoral experience led to considerable activity for Mayawati over the next five years, as she worked with Mahsood Ahmed and other organisers. The party won three seats in the 1989 national election<ref name="1989 election" /> and two seats 1991.<ref name="1991 election" />

Mayawati was first elected to the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) of Uttar Pradesh (UP) in 1994.<ref name="cm_profile" /> In 1995 she became, as head of her party, Chief Minister in a short-lived coalition government, the youngest Chief Minister in the history of the state up until that point, and the first female Dalit Chief Minister in India.<ref name="BBC 2009" /><ref name="Patni 2007" /> She won election to the Lok Sabha in two different constituencies in 1996 and chose to serve for Harora.<ref name="cm_profile" /> She became Chief Minister again for a short period in 1997 and then from 2002 to 2003 in coalition with the Bharatiya Janata Party. In 2001 Ram named her as his successor to the party leadership.<ref name="Al Jazeera" />

On 15 December 2001, in an address during a rally Lucknow, Kanshi Ram named Mayawati as his successor.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She was elected national president of the BSP for her first term on 18 September 2003.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She was elected unopposed for a second consecutive term on 27 August 2006.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Chief Minister of Uttar PradeshEdit

As the Chief Minister, Mayawati gained a reputation for efficient governance<ref name="Times 2016">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and promoting law and order,<ref name="Lal 2014">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> winning praise even from opposition parties<ref name="TNN PTI 2003">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="PTI 2013">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="http://aninews.in 2016">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and other rivals.<ref name="PTI 13">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Dixit 2014">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="TNN 2011">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="TOI 2013">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="India Today 2009">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2007, MP Umakant Yadav of her own political party, accused in a land grabbing case, was arrested near her dwelling on her orders.<ref name="oneindia.com 2007">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="The Hindu 07">Template:Cite news</ref> During September–October 2010, at the time of the Ayodhya verdict, her government maintained law and order<ref name="dna 2010">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Zee News 2010">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Rediff 10">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the state remained peaceful.<ref name="Rediff 2010">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Several high-profile criminals and mafia dons were jailed during her terms in office.<ref name="The Tribune, Chandigarh, India 2008">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="India Today 10022003 2003">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="India Today 30061997 1997">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="TNN 2007">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She called for strong anti-rape laws.<ref name="IBN7">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="IBN7 16">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Fewer riots,<ref name="timesofindia-economictimes 2013">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> lowest rapes,<ref name="Shankar Raghuraman 2011">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and least corruption<ref name="ABP Live 2016">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="In 2009">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> occurred during her tenure as compared to previous or successive governments. In the 2007-2012 assembly, only 124 MLAs were crorepatis as compared to 271 crorepatis in successive assembly elected in 2012.<ref name="Mishra 2012">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Uttar Pradesh achieved higher GDP growth rate at 17 per cent<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and lesser crimes under Mayawati regime as compared to previous and successive governments.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

First term, 1995Edit

Mayawati first served as Chief Minister from 3 June 1995 to 18 October 1995 with support of BJP. During this term, the new districts of Ambedkar Nagar district and Udham Singh Nagar district were created.<ref name="Singh 2015">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Second term, 1997Edit

Her second term was from 21 March 1997 to 20 September 1997. A drive under her government allotted pattas or gram sabha lands on lease to thousands of landless residents.<ref name="Prashar 1998">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In April 1997, she created Gautam Budh Nagar district from the district of Ghaziabad, Kaushambi district was separated from Allahabad district, and Jyotiba Phule Nagar district (now called Amroha district) from Moradabad district. In May 1997, Mahamaya Nagar district (now called Hathras district) was created out of Aligarh district and Banda district was split into Banda and Chatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Nagar.<ref name="India Today 31051997 1997">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Mayawati carried out review meetings with bureaucrats and suspended 127 officers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She set up the Dr Ambedkar Awards and erected over 100 statues of various sizes of Ambedkar in Lucknow, Kanpur, Allahabad and other key towns.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Her third term was from 3 May 2002 to 26 August 2003, in which she had the support of BJP. She suspended 12 IAS officers, including Divisional Commissioners and District Magistrates. Six IPS officers were suspended for failing to maintain law and order, while 24 officers were warned to improve.<ref name="The Tribune, Chandigarh, India 2002">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She started 511 acre Gautam Buddha University.<ref name="http://www.outlookindia.com/ 2016">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She renamed King George's Medical University to Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University.<ref name="India Today 28102002 2002">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She suspended three senior officials after review in a couple of administrative divisions.<ref name="Rediff.com 2002">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Fourth term, 2007–12Edit

Template:Further

File:Ms. Mayawati's statues akin to Emblem of India, the four Asiatic lions.jpg

Mayawati's statue Ambedkar Memorial Park.

Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state and one of its poorest, is considered pivotal in the politics of India because of its large number of voters.<ref name="Chandrahas 2011" /><ref name="Times July 2010" /> BSP won a majority in the 2007 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, due to support of Brahmans.<ref name="Rediff 2007" /> The campaign was accompanied by a colourful slogan: Haathi nahin, Ganesh hain, Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh Hain: "The elephant (the BSP logo) is really the Lord Ganesha, the trinity of gods rolled into one".<ref name="Desai 2007" /> 37 per cent Brahmins voted for the party.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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 was to make "Uttar Pradesh" ("Northern Province") into "Uttam Pradesh" ("Excellent Province").<ref name="Raina 2007" /> Her government began a major crackdown on irregularities in the recruitment process of police officers recruited during the previous Mulayam Singh government. Over 18,000 policemen lost their jobs for irregularities in their hiring, and 25 Indian Police Service officers were suspended for their involvement in corruption while recruiting the constables.<ref name="News Track 2007" /><ref name="Times May 2012" /> Mayawati instituted reforms to introduce transparency into the recruiting process, including posting the results of selection exams online.<ref name="Gupta 2010" />

On 10 August 2007, the Mayawati government proposed 30 per cent reservation in jobs in the private sector.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A quota for promotions was also introduced, but was later quashed by the Supreme Court of India.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In September 2007, Bhimrao Ambedkar Rural Integrated Development Programme was started.<ref name="The Hindu">Template:Cite news</ref> The Dr Ambedkar Gram Vikas Yojana scheme was launched for supplying water, electricity, and constructing roads in villages with a Dalit majority.<ref name="Raote 2012">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="The Independent 2008">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Forbes India Magazine 2012">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Under this scheme, 24,716 villages received improvements.

In 2008, Mayawati launched, Manyawar Shri Kanshiram Ji Shahri Garib Awas Yojna, a scheme for building low-cost housing colonies for urban poor with 90,000 low-cost homes under the first round of construction in different towns and cities across the state while a second and a third round were still underway when government ended in 2012 and next government scrapped the scheme including cutting down electricity of these colonies.<ref name="Sharma 2014">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Mayawati government started efforts to set up solar power plants and the first 5 MW solar power plant located in Naini of Allahabad district started functioning in March 2012 and was developed by EMC Limited.<ref name="Sify 2012">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> UP government signed a MoU with NTPC Limited for 1,320-MW power plant.<ref name="Reporters 2007">Template:Cite news</ref> Mayawati's dream project of 165 km six lane Yamuna Expressway connected Delhi to Agra through Noida–Greater Noida Expressway, touching 1,182 villages in the state.<ref name="SENSEX 1977">Template:Cite news</ref> Later, Indian Air Force fighter jet Dassault Mirage 2000 test-Landed on Yamuna Expressway as Part of Trials.<ref name="NDTV.com 2015">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On 15 January 2008, Mayawati inaugurated the construction of the 1,047 km Ganga Expressway at the cost of Template:INRConvert for joining Ballia to Greater Noida.<ref name="Indian Express 2008">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2008, her government established Dr. Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University for the Physically challenged students.<ref name="Dr Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University 2013">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In November 2009, Mayawati dedicated Noida Metro constructed at the cost of Template:INRConvert.<ref name="Ramachandran 2009">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Rawat 2009">Template:Cite news</ref> She had vigorously proposed for construction of Jewar airport near Noida.<ref name="The Pioneer 2016">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In October 2011, Mayawati government under public-private partnership with Jaypee Group successfully executed and delivered First F1 Indian Grand Prix, an international event at Buddh International Circuit, Greater Noida constructed by Jaypee Group. The event was hailed as flawlessly conducted salvaging some of India's prestige when compared to minor embarrassments in 2010 Commonwealth Games (Before opening ceremony) conducted in Delhi.<ref name="By 2011">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Rangaswami 2011">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Keelor 2011">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Mayawati presented the winning trophy to winner Sebastian Vettel.<ref name="ht 2011">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Foreigners found the track as 'impressive'<ref name="Baldwin 2011">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and 3 Indian teenagers picked by a F1 panel to train them as future Formula One drivers in Europe.<ref name="Chakraborty 2011">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Mayawati has seen through to completion of several memorials dedicated to icons of Bahujan Samaj build first time in India, including the Manyawar Shri Kanshiram Ji Green Eco Garden (inaugurated March 2011),<ref name="The Hindu 4 March 2011"/> the Rashtriya Dalit Prerna Sthal and Green Garden (inaugurated October 2011),<ref name="Yaho News 14 Oct 2011"/> and the Ambedkar Memorial Park (opened November 2012).<ref name="Srivastava 2012"/> She renamed Amethi district as Chattrapati Sahuji Maharaj Nagar,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Kanpur Dehat as Rambai Nagar, Sambhal as Bheem Nagar, Shamli as Prabuddha Nagar, Hapur as Panchsheel Nagar, Kasganj as Kanshiram Nagar, Hathras as Mahamaya Nagar and Amroha as JP Nagar.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Mayawati during her tenure directed all the Commissioners and the District Magistrates to distribute 3 acre land pieces or pattas to weaker sections of society by launching special drive for illegal possesses of pattas be dispossessed of them and the eligible poor be identified by regular monitoring of pattas and strict action against the mafias and musclemen through spot verification of different development and public welfare programmes.<ref name="OdishaDiary 2010">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2010, 5596 people belonging to the SC and ST communities were allotted 1054.879 hectares of agriculture land. In a special drive 74 FIRs were filed and 88 people were arrested for illegal occupation from agricultural land.<ref name="PTI 2016">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="timesofindia-economictimes 2010">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Sugar Information Service a model website supported by SMS and IVRS facility was developed.<ref name="economictimes 12">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Mayawati dedicated the Template:INRConvert 286-bed super-specialty Centenary hospital in Lucknow and 50-bed critical care unit at CSMMU<ref name="Indian Express 10">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and increased salaries of doctors.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Mayawati, in 2007, launched<ref name="www.oneindia.com 2007">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:INRConvert Manyawar Kanshiram Multi-speciality Hospital in Greater Noida which started its OPD services in April 2013.<ref name="TNN13">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Mayawati government also spent Template:INRConvert on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Multi Speciality Hospital in Sector 30 of Noida.<ref name="Aradhak 2013">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Her government also instituted Sant Ravidas Kala Samman Award with a cash prize of Template:INRConvert.<ref name="Zee News 2009">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Under Savitri Bai Phule Balika Shiksha Madad Yojna, Mayawati distributed over 10 lakh bicycles among Muslim and poor school girls from 2008 to 2011.<ref name="India Today 21112011 2011">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Zee 2011">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

File:Bifurcation of Uttar Pradesh - proposals.svg

A geographical comparison of Mayawati's bifurcation plan of Uttar Pradesh compared to that of Ambedkar's.

After coming to power in 2007, Mayawati wrote letters to the Prime Minister regarding partitioning of Uttar Pradesh into four different states in 2007, in March 2008 and December 2009.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Finally on 15 November 2011, Mayawati's cabinet approved partitioning Uttar Pradesh into four different states (Pashchim Pradesh, Awadh Pradesh, Bundelkhand and Purvanchal) for better administration and governance.<ref name="ZeeNews 2011" />

On 6 March 2012 the Bahujan Samaj Party lost its majority to the Samajwadi Party and Mayawati tendered her resignation to the governor of Uttar Pradesh the next day,<ref name="NDTV 2012" /> thereby becoming the first CM to complete five full years in office.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 13 March 2012 she filed nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha, and she was declared elected unopposed on 22 March.<ref name="Economic Times 2012" /><ref name="Tripathi 2012-03-22" />

Later careerEdit

She was elected as the BSP president for a third term on 30 August 2014<ref name="IBN7 2016">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and for fourth term on 28 August 2019.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On 10 December 2023 Mayawati named nephew Akash Anand as her successor.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Political and legal issuesEdit

File:The Middle Portion with the right Dome in the Backdrop.JPG

Ambedkar Memorial Park at night

Mayawati's political career has attracted praise and controversy.<ref name="Rediff 2003" /><ref name="Reddit 2011" /> She has been praised for her fundraising efforts on behalf of her party, and her birthdays were major media events as well as a symbol for her supporters. The increase in her personal wealth and that of her party<ref name="Times 2010" /><ref name="CNN 2012" /><ref name="CNN 2010" /> have been viewed by critics as signs of corruption.<ref name="BBC 2009" /><ref name="Daily News 2010" />

Taj corridorEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

In 2002, the government of Uttar Pradesh began improvements of the infrastructure in the Taj Heritage Corridor, the important tourist area in Agra that includes the Taj Mahal. The project was soon riddled with problems, including funds being released for the project without the submission of the required detailed project reports to the environmental authorities.<ref name="Kushal Pal 2003" /> Suspecting there were financial irregularities as well, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided twelve residences, including Mayawati's. It had filed a First Information Report against her and seven others two days earlier.<ref name="Rediff 2003 raid" /> The raid uncovered evidence of assets disproportionate to her known income.<ref name="Rediff 2003 Taj" /><ref name="Times Online 2004" /> Afterwards, Mayawati resigned from her own government to prove that she was not "hungry for power"<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She asked the BJP-run Government of India to remove Union Tourism and Culture Minister, Jagmohan<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> for conspiring this all controversy against her.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In June 2007, Governor T. V. Rajeswar said that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute her. In his 23-page order, he said: "the fact that the Mission Management Board, consisting of officers of both the State and the Central Government, regularly met and discussed the project and the fact that even a sum of Template:INR 17 crores was spent through the Central Government public sector undertaking, NPCC, all go to show that the serious offences with which Mayawati and the Minister were charged do not stand scrutiny."<ref name="The Hindu 2007" /> Advocates unsuccessfully challenged the governor's decision in court. The Supreme Court rejected the plea of the CBI and refused to direct the governor to prosecute her. The Taj corridor case was effectively ended before going to trial.<ref name="NDTV 2007" /><ref name="Hindustan Times 2007" /><ref name="IBN Live" />

Disproportionate assets caseEdit

In the 2007–08 assessment year, Mayawati paid an income tax of Template:INR26 crore, ranking among the top 20 taxpayers in the country. Earlier the CBI filed a case against her for owning assets disproportionate to her known sources of income. Mayawati described the CBI investigation against her as illegal.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Her party asserted that her income comes from gifts and small contributions made by party workers and supporters.<ref name="Thakur 2008" /><ref name="Times of India 2010" />

On 3 August 2011 the Delhi High court dismissed the central government's appeal against Mayawati, stating that "she has fully discharged her obligations by disclosing the identities of all of her donors, the gifts had been donated by her supporters".<ref name="The Hindu August 2011" /> The central government decided not to file an appeal in the Supreme Court.<ref name="Indian Express June 2011" /> On 13 March 2012 Mayawati revealed assets worth Template:INR 111.26 crore in an affidavit filed with her nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha.<ref name="Economic Times 2012" /> The disproportionate assets case was finally quashed on 6 July 2012—nine years later—by a Supreme Court bench of Justice P Sathasivam and Dipak Misra; the court found that the case was unwarranted.<ref name="Indian Express July 2012" /> Based on an opinion received from the Directorate of Prosecution, the CBI decided not to file an appeal.<ref name="Indian Express August 2012" /> On 4 October 2012 a review petition was filed by Kamlesh Verma, contending that the case had been dismissed merely on technical grounds, and that the evidence had not been adequately reviewed.<ref name="DNA 4 October 2012" /> On 8 August 2013 the Supreme Court declined a request to re-open the case.<ref name="IBN Live 8 Aug 2013" /> After seeking legal advice, the CBI finally closed their file on 8 October 2013.<ref name="Indian Express 2013" />

Bahujan monumentsEdit

In her tenures as a Chief Minister, Mayawati commissioned the production and public display of several monuments<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> having parks, gallerias, museums,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> memorials, murals<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and statues representing Buddhist and Hindu, Dalit/OBC<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> icons like Gautama Buddha, Gadge Maharaj, Ravidas, Kabir, Narayana Guru, Jyotirao Phule, Shahu IV, B. R. Ambedkar, BSP party founder Kanshi Ram, and of herself.<ref name="Jha 2005" /> She claims that the expenditure was required because the past governments did not show respect towards Dalit leaders, in whose memory nothing had ever been built.<ref name="Thaindian June 2010" /> She spent somewhere between Template:INR2,500 and 6,000 crore (about US$500 million to US$1.3 billion) on projects in five parks and at memorials such as the Ambedkar Memorial Park and Manyavar Kanshiram Smarak Sthal, built in the name of B.R. Ambedkar, Ramabai Ambedkar, and Kanshi Ram in Lucknow between 2007 and 2009.<ref name="India Today 2011" /><ref name="IBN Live 2009" /><ref name="Foy"/> The Comptroller and Auditor General of India reported that Template:INR 66 crore (about US$12 million) in excessive costs had been incurred on the construction of the memorials.<ref name="CAG-slams" /> In February 2010 Mayawati's government approved a plan for a special police force to protect the statues, as she feared that her political opponents might demolish them.<ref name="BBC News 2010" /> In December 2010, her government received permission to continue part of the plan, namely maintenance and completion of Ambedkar Memorial Park.<ref name="Foy" />

Despite the existing Supreme Court stay, in October 2011 Mayawati inaugurated the Rashtriya Dalit Prerna Sthal and Green Garden, built at a cost of Template:INR685 crore.<ref name="NDTV 2011" /> Since the memorial also features her own statues, Mayawati was accused by the Indian National Congress of wasting the taxpayers' money.<ref name="wsj_bane_boon" /> The BSP dismissed the allegations, stating that her statues were erected because Kanshi Ram's will requested that his statues should be constructed next to those of the current President of BSP. Mayawati accused the Congress of being "anti-Dalit".<ref name="wsj_bane_boon" />

In January 2012, the Election Commission ordered that all of the statues of Mayawati as well as recent statues of elephants (the symbol of the Bahujan Samaj Party) should be covered up until after February's Uttar Pradesh election.<ref name="AutoUQ-1"/><ref name="AutoUQ-2"/> On 26 July 2012 the statue in Lucknow was damaged by members of a group calling themselves "Uttar Pradesh Naunirman Sena".<ref name="Hindustan Times 2012" /><ref name="Tripathi 2012-07-27" /><ref name="AutoUQ-3"/> A replacement statue was re-installed overnight by the Lucknow city administration.<ref name="AutoUQ-4"/> Following the Lucknow vandalism, there were similar such incidents in other parts of Uttar Pradesh.<ref name="AutoUQ-5"/>

World Bank criticismEdit

The World Bank lent 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 projects behind schedule, including rapidly transferring upper caste managers in and out of rural posts.<ref name="Kirk 2011" /> The World Bank sent a letter of complaint on 1 August 2002 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 past six months ... Such developments do not augur well for these time-bound projects that require consistently good leadership."<ref name="Tripathi 2002" /> Mayawati initially responded by saying the letter was a fake and later said there had been a misunderstanding. She then decreased the number of transfers, stopped creating new posts, and temporarily reduced the level of government spending on furniture and vehicles in response to the allegations. The World Bank continued to criticise the level of corruption even after these measures had been implemented.<ref name="Kirk 2011" />

Positions heldEdit

Kumari Mayawati has been elected three times as Rajya Sabha MP and four times as Lok Sabha MP.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

As per the election affidavit of 2012 (Rajya Sabha), Mayawati has assets worth ₹111.64 crores and liabilities worth ₹87.68 lakhs (0.87 crores).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

#	From	To	Position	Party
1.	1989	1991	MP (1st term) in 9th Lok Sabha from Bijnor	BSP
2.	1994	1996	MP (1st term) in Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh (resigned in Oct 1996)	BSP
3.	1996	1997	MLA (1st term) in 13th Vidhan Sabha from Harora (resigned in 1996) and Bilsi (resigned in 1997)	BSP
4.	1998	1999	MP (2nd term) in 12th Lok Sabha from Akbarpur	BSP
5.	1999	2002	MP (3rd term) in 13th Lok Sabha from Akbarpur (resigned in 2002)	BSP
6.	2004	2004	MP (4th term) in 14th Lok Sabha from Akbarpur (resigned in July 2004)	BSP
7.	2004	2007	MP (2nd term) in Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh (resigned in July 2007)	BSP
8.	2007	2012	Chief Minister (4th term) in Government of Uttar Pradesh	BSP
9.	2007	2012	MLC in Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council (resigned in 2012)	BSP
10.	2012	2017	MP (3rd term) in Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh (resigned in July 2017)	BSP

Personal life and public imageEdit

File:Image of India.jpg

Statues of Mayawati (L) and Kanshi Ram (R) at Ambedkar Memorial Park

Mayawati started her political career after Kanshi Ram, the founder of Bahujan Samaj Party, persuaded her not to join the civil service, but to enter politics.<ref name="Swaminathan S Anklesaria Aiyar 2008">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Mayawati chose to remain unmarried. She is also known as Iron Lady.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Kanshi Ram 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 at the national level, and that Mayawati's efforts had helped in that quest.<ref name="Rediff 2003" /> Her birthdays have since become major media events at which she has appeared laden with diamonds.<ref name="BBC 2009" /> 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<ref name="Thaindian 2009" /> and, in 2010, by the launch of social programmes with a value of over Template:INR 7,312 crore.<ref name="The Hindu 2010" />

In 2007–08, Mayawati paid Template:INRConvert as income tax.<ref name="Tax 1977">Template:Cite news</ref> She was at number 20 in the I-T department's compilation of the top 200 taxpayers' list with names like Shah Rukh Khan and Sachin Tendulkar.Template:Citation needed Mayawati paid Template:INRConvert in advance tax in April–December 2007. She paid Template:INRConvert on other incomes, most of which was declared by her as "gifts" by party members.<ref name="Rediff 2016">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

When BSP workers garlanded Mayawati with currency notes on the occasion of the party's silver jubilee celebrations coinciding with BSP founder Kanshi Ram's birth anniversary on 15 March 2010, Indian news channels and newspapers purported to expose the event as a ‘scandal’ on the presumption that the Chief Minister had publicly committed an act of corruption that was being flaunted openly and declaring that the garland of currency notes was made from money through corrupt means and not from donations of Bahujan Samaj Party supporters as Mayawati, her Ministers and supporters claimed. At Kanshi Ram's funeral ceremonies in 2006, Mayawati stated that both Kanshi Ram and herself had been, and she would continue to be, observant of Buddhist traditions and customs. She has stated her intention to formally convert to Buddhism when the political conditions enable her to become Prime Minister of India. Her act of performing the last rites (traditionally done by a male heir) was an expression of their views against gender discrimination.<ref name="legacy" /><ref name="The Hindu 2006" /> When she was Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, she publicly called Bhikkhus to prayer.<ref name = "Das 2011" />

Literature about MayawatiEdit

Literature about Mayawati includes studies and books. One of the first works about her was journalist Mohammad Jamil Akhter's book, Iron Lady Kumari Mayawati.<ref name="BSP India" /> 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 two volumes in English.<ref name="UP Leg Assembly" /> Behenji : A Political Biography of Mayawati is a biography by veteran journalist Ajoy Bose.<ref name="Bose 2008" />

Awards and recognitionEdit

In 2003, Mayawati as the Chief Minister, was awarded Paul Harris Fellow Award by UNICEF, World Health Organization and Rotary International, for her initiative in Polio eradication.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Mayawati was also honoured with Rajarshi Shahu Award by Rajarshi Shahu Memorial Trust.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2008, Forbes added Mayawati in the 59th place on its list of the 100 most powerful women in the world.<ref name="Forbes.com 2005">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="India Today 2008">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She appeared in NewsweekTemplate:'s top woman achievers list in 2007.<ref name="Newsweek list">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2009 a Newsweek article described her as the Barack Obama of India, and a potential candidate for Prime Minister.<ref name="Newsweek">Template:Cite journal</ref> Time magazine included Mayawati in India's 15 Most Influential list for 2007.<ref name="Tharoor 2007">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

ReferencesEdit

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External linksEdit

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