Overview
- Announcing the plan at a Lucknow press interaction on her 70th birthday, Mayawati said the BSP will fight all elections independently, including the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.
- She argued that past tie-ups hurt the party because BSP’s Dalit votes shifted to allies while upper-caste votes did not return, adding that any future alliance would require assured reciprocal transfer over years.
- Positioning to broaden the party’s base, she appealed to Brahmins for respect and real participation over token gestures such as “bati chokha” politics, and pledged attention to Kshatriya and Vaishya interests.
- Initial reactions were muted or critical, with the UP BJP chief calling the move an internal matter, SP leader Shivpal Yadav declaring her political relevance nearly over, and Congress accusing her of enabling anti-constitutional forces.
- A short circuit at the press venue briefly filled the hall with smoke and led to the event being called off, with party officials reporting no injuries.