Mayawati
Mayawati | |
---|---|
Member of Parliament - Rajya Sabha | |
Assumed office March 2012 | |
| |
In office 13 May 2007 – 7 March 2012 | |
Preceded by | Mulayam Singh Yadav |
Succeeded by | Akhilesh Yadav |
In office 3 May 2002 – 29 August 2003 | |
Preceded by | President's rule |
Succeeded by | Mulayam Singh Yadav |
In office 21 March 1997 – 21 September 1997 | |
Preceded by | President's rule |
Succeeded by | Kalyan Singh |
In office 3 June 1995 – 18 October 1995 | |
Preceded by | Mulayam Singh Yadav |
Succeeded by | President's rule |
Personal details | |
Born | New Delhi | 15 January 1956
Political party | Bahujan Samaj Party |
Relations | Six brothers and two sisters[citation needed] |
Residence | Lucknow |
Alma mater | |
Occupation | Politician |
Kumari Mayawati (Hindi: मायावती) (born 15 January 1956) is an Indian politician who is a former Chief Minister[2] of Uttar Pradesh.[3][4] She heads the Bahujan Samaj Party, which represents the Bahujans or Dalits, the weakest strata of Indian society. She completed four terms as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, but lost the 2012 legislative assembly elections to the rival Samajwadi Party. She resigned from her post on 7 March 2012 . An icon for millions of India's Dalits, who were oppressed by the Hindu upper castes for centuries, she is sometimes referred to as "Behen-ji" (sister).[5]
Mayawati's rise from humble beginnings has been called a "miracle of democracy" by P. V. Narasimha Rao, former Prime Minister of India.[6] In 1993 she formed a coalition with the Samajwadi Party and emerged, at 39, the youngest chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and the first Dalit woman Chief Minister in India.[5] In 1997 and in 2002, she was Chief Minister in coalition with the Bharatiya Janata Party, the second time for a full term. In two of these coalitions, she withdrew her support in midterm.
Mayawati's tenure has attracted controversy.[7] The rise in her personal wealth[8][9] and that of her party[10] are described by critics as indicators of corruption.[5][11]
Personal life
Mayawati's father, Prabhu Das, was a post office employee at Badalpur, Gautam Buddha Nagar.[2] She was born in New Delhi at Shrimati Sucheta Kriplani Hospital.[2] The family belonged to the Jatav caste, at the upper end[12] of the scheduled castes. The sons in the family were sent to private schools while the daughters went to "low-performing government schools".[13]
Mayawati was a good student and completed three degrees – a Bachelors of Arts from Kalindi Women's College and Law faculty, Campus Law Centre, under the University of Delhi. Subsequently, she completed a B.Ed from VMLG College, Ghaziabad.[2] She graduated from Kalindi College, Delhi University in 1975. She completed B.Ed from Meerut University in 1976. In 1983, she did LL.B from Delhi University. She was working as a teacher in Inderpuri JJ Colony, Delhi, and studying for the Indian Administrative Services exams, when Dalit politician Kanshi Ram came to their house in 1977. According to biographer Ajoy Bose, Kanshi Ram said, "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."[13] She was part of Kanshi Ram's team when he founded the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in 1984. In 1989 she was elected to the parliament from Bijnor.
At Kanshi Ram's funeral ceremonies in 2006, Mayawati said they had both been following Buddhist traditions and customs.[14] Her act of performing the last rites (traditionally done by a male heir) was an instance of their views against gender discrimination.[14] She has indicated that she may formally convert to Buddhism at some point.[15]
Mayawati said in an interview that she has no time for family life or romantic relationships because she wants to focus on her political career; this is why she remains unmarried.[16]
Political career
In 1984 Kanshi Ram founded the BSP as a party to represent the Dalits and Buddhists.[17] Mayawati was a key member of this organisation. BSP fielded Mayawati for its first election campaign from the Kairana Lok Sabha (Lower House) seat in the Muzaffarnagar district in 1984, and then again for the Lok Sabha seats of Bijnor in 1985 and Haridwar in 1987. In 1989 she was elected for the Lok Sabha seat of Bijnor, with 183,189 votes.[18][19]
Although BSP did not win, the electoral experience led to considerable activity for Mayawati over the next five years, as she worked with Mahsood Ahmed and other organisers. In the 1989 election, the party won 9% of the popular vote and 13 seats. It won 11 seats in the 1991 election. Because the Dalits are widely spread over the state, Kanshi Ram and Mayawati adopted a policy of attracting other groups, which continues today.
Mayawati won election to the Lok Sabha for the first time in 1989, from Bijnor. In 1995, while a member of the Rajya Sabha (Upper House), she became a Chief Minister in a short-lived coalition government, and validated her position by winning from two constituencies in 1996. She was again Chief Minister for a short period in 1997, and then for a somewhat longer term in coalition with the Bharatiya Janata Party from 2002 to 2003. In 2001 her mentor, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Kanshi Ram, named her as his successor. In 2012 she was defeated in the state elections.
2007 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections
Contrary to some poll predictions, BSP won a majority in the 2007 elections, the first such majority since 1991. Mayawati attracted support from Brahmins, Thakurs, Muslims, and members of other backward classes. These people voted for a Dalit party for the first time, partly because BSP had offered seats to people from these communities. The 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". Her new slogan invited everyone, including the higher castes, to "come ride the elephant", her party's election symbol.[5]
Chief Minister, 2007
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").
In 2007 Mayawati's government began a major crackdown on irregularities in the recruitment process of police officers recruited during the previous Mulayam Singh government. So far 17,868 policemen have lost their jobs for irregularities in the recruitment process and 25 IPS officers were suspended for their involvement in corruption while recruiting the police constables.[20][21] Mayawati is instituting reforms to introduce transparency into the recruiting process, including posting results of selection exams online.[22]
As part of her social reform plans she advocates reservation for the poor among upper castes in addition to reservation for weaker sections of society. Reservation in India is a system whereby a percentage of government positions and seats in all universities are reserved for persons in backward classes and scheduled castes and tribes.[23]
2009 parliamentary elections
The BSP won 20 seats in Lok Sabha from the state of Uttar Pradesh in the 2009 elections. The BSP obtained the highest percentage (27. 42%) of votes in Uttar Pradesh for any one political party. It was in third position in terms of national polling percentage (6.17%).[24]
2012 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections
On 6 March 2012 the Bahujan Samaj Party lost its majority to the Samajwadi Party. Mayawati tendered her resignation to the governor of Uttar Pradesh on 7 March 2012.[25] On 13 March 2012 she filed nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha.[26]
Political and legal issues
Taj corridor case
In 2003 the CBI raided Mayawati's residence in relation to the Taj corridor case, two days after it had filed an First Information Report against her.[27] This led to discovery of assets disproportionate to her known income.[28][29]
In June 2007 The UP Governor T.V. Rajeswar said that there wasn't enough evidence against her for her prosecution in the case. |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 Rs. 17 crore 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.'[30]
Advocates challenged the Governor's decision in court, but failed. The Supreme Court rejected the plea of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and by refusing to direct the Governor to prosecute her, effectively ending the Taj corridor case before going to trial.[31][32][33]
Birthdays
Mayawati's birthdays have been major media events, where she appeared laden with diamonds.[5] 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.[34] Her 2010 birthday was marked by the launch of programmes with a value of over Rs 7,312 crores.[35]
Disproportionate assets case
Mayawati's assets run into millions of dollars, with several properties to her name.[5] In the 2007–08 assessment year, Mayawati paid an income tax of Rupees 26 crores, ranking among the top 20 taxpayers in the country. Earlier the Income Tax Department had filed a case against her for owning assets disproportionate to her known sources of income. Mayawati described the Income Tax investigation against her as illegal.[36] Her party asserts that her income comes from gifts and small contributions made by party workers and supporters.[37][38]
On 3 August 3 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”.[39] The central government decided not to file an appeal in the Supreme Court.[40]
On 13 March 2012 Mayawati revealed assets worth Rs. 111.26 crores in an affidavit filed with her to the Income Tax Department for nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha.[26]
Statues
In her tenures as a Chief Minister, Mayawati erected number of statues of Buddhist, Hindu, and Dalit icons like Gautam Buddha, Ravidas, Narayana Guru, Jyotirao Phule, Shahuji Maharaj, Periyar Ramasami, Bhimrao Ambedkar, BSP founder Kanshi Ram, and of herself.[41] She claims that the expenditure on statues and symbols of Dalit icons was required because the past governments did not show respect towards Dalit leaderss, in whose memory nothing was ever built.[42] She spent over Rs 2,500 crore on projects in five parks and memorials like B R Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sthal and Manyavar Kanshiram Smarak Sthal, built in the name of Bhimrao Ambedkar, Ramabai Ambedkar, and Kanshi Ram in Lucknow between 2007 and 2009.[43][44] The Comptroller and Auditor General of India reported that Rs. 15 crore was spent on memorials.[45] The Supreme Court of India admitted a Public Interest Litigation questioning this expenditure. In February 2010 Mayawati's government approved a plan for a special police force to protect the statues. She feared that her political opponents might demolish the statues.[46]
In October 2011 Mayawati inaugurated the Rashtriya Dalit Prerna Sthal and Green Garden, built at a cost of ₹ 685 crores.[47] Since the memorial also features her own statues, Mayawati was accused by the Indian National Congress of wasting the tax-payers' money.[48] The BSP dismissed the allegations, and stated 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".[48]
World Bank criticism
The World Bank loaned India funds for development, and Mayawati was to manage projects with this money in UP.[49] The projects were preplanned and on schedule, but the Mayawati government made changes which put the project behind schedule. 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 the past six months ... Such developments do not augur well for these time-bound projects that require consistently good leadership."[50]
WikiLeaks allegations
Diplomatic cables published in 2011 through WikiLeaks detailing the opinions of American civil servants asserted that Mayawati ran all governmental decisions through her small group of advisors and that she employed food tasters for security.[51] The diplomatic cables also alleged that Mayawati sent a private jet to Mumbai to retrieve some sandals.[52] Mayawati responded to the cables by saying that the statements they presented were baseless.[53]
Other
Kanshi Ram, head of the Bahujan Samaj Party, 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 in Delhi, and that Mayawati's efforts help in that quest.[54]
Mayawati's public meetings are attended by large audiences, using slogans such as "Kanshi Ram ka mission Adhoora; karegi Behen Mayawati poora" (Kanshi Ram's unfulfilled mission will be completed by Mayawati), "Behenji tum sangharsh karo; hum tumhare saath hain" (Sister, go ahead with your struggle; we are with you).[55]
Books on Mayawati
Many studies have been done on Mayawati and many books have been published, including her autobiographies. One of the first works was journalist Mohammad Jamil Akhter's book, Iron Lady Kumari Mayawati.[56] 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 English in two volumes.[57] Behenji : A Political Biography Of Mayawati is a biography by veteran journalist Ajoy Bose.[13]
See also
References
- ^ UP CMs & their terms. Retrieved on 30 March 2007.
- ^ a b c d "Ms. MAYAWATI, Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh, Life History: At A Glance (Official Profile of Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh)". upgov.nic.in. 16 July 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
- ^ "Mayawati in Newsweek's top woman achievers' list".
- ^
"Mayawati is India's anti-Obama: Newsweek". The Times Of India. 21 April 2009.
{{cite news}}
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suggested) (help) [dead link] - ^ a b c d e f "Profile: Mayawati Kumari". news.bbc.co.uk. 16 July 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ "'A miracle of democracy'". Tehelka Magazine. 10 May 2008.
- ^ "Mayawati richest CM in India". reddit. 20 January 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
- ^ "Mayawati's assets rise from Rs 52 crore to Rs 87 crore in 3 yrs". Times of India. 27 May 2010. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
- ^ "Mayawati's wealth jumps to Rs 111 crore from 88 crore in 2 years". CNN-IBN. 13 March 2012. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
- ^ Bhonsle, Anubha (18 March 2010). "BSP's I-T return rises 30 times in 3 years". CNN-IBN. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
- ^ Gidwani, Deepak (27 May 2010). "Mayawati has a treasure trove of gold, jewels, but no car". Daily News and Analysis. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
- ^ http://bhimraoambedkar.com/2011/01/23/dalit-leader-mayawati/
- ^ a b c Ajoy Bose, Behenji: A Political Biography of Mayawati, Penguin 2008
- ^ a b http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/oct/16look.htm Mayawati claims Kanshi Ram's Legacy
- ^
"Mayawati to embrace Buddhism". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 17 October 2006. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
{{cite news}}
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(help) - ^
Wax, Emily (19 July 2008). "Lower-caste politician a lofty symbol in India". Tehran Times. Washington Post. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
Still, she is clear about her determination to expand her party's national footprint. She said she was so focused on her political career that she has no time for romantic relationships, movies, even extended family. 'That's why I am unmarried,' she said. 'I don't even keep my parents here.'
{{cite news}}
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(help) - ^ Srivastava, Sanjeev (9 October 2006). "Kanshi Ram: Champion of the poor". BBC News. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
- ^ Subrahmaniam, Vidya (22 March 2010). "A quarter century of Kanshi Ram & Mayawati". Chennai, India: The Hindu. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
- ^ "Profile of Mayawati, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh". Official UP Government Release. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
- ^ "Uttar Pradesh police recruitment scam". News Track India. 1 October 2007. Retrieved 26 June 2008.
- ^ "12 Uttar Pradesh cops suspended, new recruits lose jobs". www.monstersandcritics.com. 11 September 2007. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
- ^ Kanchan Gupta (10 April 2010). "To fight Maoists, reform the police". www.dailypioneer.com. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
- ^ "Mayawati promises justice for all". CNN-IBN. 20 June 2007. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
- ^ List of Winning Candidates
- ^
. 06-03-2012 http://www.ndtv.com/article/assembly-polls/election-results-family-matters-yadavs-set-to-win-up-badals-may-keep-punjab-183132. Retrieved 06-03-2012.
{{cite news}}
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and|date=
(help); Missing or empty|title=
(help) - ^ a b
Economic Times (13 March 2012). "Mayawati's wealth doubles to Rs 111 crore in five years". Economic Times. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
{{cite news}}
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(help) - ^ "Taj controversy: CBI raids Mayawati's residence". Redff.com. 8 October 2003. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ "Evidence found against Maya: CBI". rediff.com. 8 October 2003. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ Amrit Dhillon (31 October 2004). "Friend of the poor has rupee fortune". London: Sunday Times website. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ "No element of corruption on Mayawati's part, says Uttar Pradesh Governor". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 7 June 2007.
- ^ {http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/taj-case-mayawati-gets-reprieve/17992}
- ^ http://www.hindustantimes.com/Maya-gets-reprieve-in-Taj-corridor-case/Article1-251919.aspx
- ^ http://ibnlive.in.com/news/monumental-relief-for-maya--wah-taj/42282-4.html
- ^ "Mayawati to celebrate birthday as 'People's Welfare Day'". www.thaindian.com. 29 December 2009. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
- ^ PTI (15 January 2010). "The Hindu : States / Other States : Mayawati launches welfare schemes on birthday". Chennai, India: Beta.thehindu.com. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ CBI probe in DA case illegal: Mayawati
- ^ Pradeep Thakur, TNN, 3 Aug 2008, 12.22am IST (3 August 2008). "Mayawati, Shah Rukh among top taxpayers – India – The Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ PTI, 17 Mar 2010, 12.40pm IST (17 March 2010). "Defiant Mayawati felicitated with another cash garland – India – The Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Centre's appeal against Mayawati dismissed". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 3 August 2011.
- ^ http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/centre-wont-appeal-against-hc-order-on-maya/846972/
- ^ Rajiv Ranjan Jha (25 May 2005). /articleshow/1120843.cms "Mayawati adds another 100 feet to her stature". Times of India. Retrieved 13 May 2007.
{{cite news}}
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value (help) - ^ memorials-will-not-cost-any-more-money-says-mayawati www.thaindian.com
- ^ http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mayawati-government-uttar-pradesh-luxury-statue-citizens-neglected/1/147733.html
- ^ "Mayawati gets statue-tory warning from SC – Politics – ibnlive". Ibnlive.in.com. 3 February 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ http://www.indianexpress.com/news/our-banana-constitution-obc/828094/
- ^ "India minister Mayawati police squad for statues". BBC News. 5 February 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ "Mayawati to inaugurate 685-crore Noida memorial park today". NDTV. 14 October 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
- ^ a b Preetika Rana (18 October 2011). "Dalit Park: Boon or Bane for Mayawati?". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
- ^ Kirk, Jason (2011). India and the World Bank: The Politics of Aid and Influence. Anthem Press. ISBN 978-0-85728-412-9.
- ^ Tripathi, Purima S. (14–27 September 2002), "Mayawati in double trouble", Frontline, 19 (19)
- ^ "Wikileaks: India's Mayawati 'sent jet to collect shoes'". BBC News. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- ^ "India's Mayawati says 'Wikileaks founder has gone mad'". BBC News South Asia. 6 September 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- ^ Agarwal, Vibhuti (6 September 2011). "Mayawati: WikiLeaks Founder Should Be Sent to Mental Asylum - India Real Time - WSJ". blogs.wsj.com. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
- ^ http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jan/16up1.htm Fund collection: Kanshi Ram defends Mayawati
- ^ 'I will fulfill Kanshi Ram's dream'
- ^ Kumari Mayawati Ji: BSP, UP Chief Minister Bahan Kumari Mayawati, Bahujan Samaj Aur Uski Rajniti, Mere Sangarshmai Jeevan Evam Bahujan Movement Ka Safarnama, A Travelogue of M...
- ^ http://uplegassembly.nic.in/MAYAWATI%20BOI%20DATA.htm KUMARI MAYAWATI
External links
Timeline
- Use dmy dates from September 2011
- 14th Lok Sabha members
- 1956 births
- Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh
- Indian women in politics
- Living people
- People from Bijnor
- Bahujan Samaj Party politicians
- Leaders of political parties in India
- Chaudhary Charan Singh University alumni
- Uttar Pradesh MLAs 1997-2002
- 9th Lok Sabha members
- Members of the Rajya Sabha
- 12th Lok Sabha members
- 13th Lok Sabha members
- Uttar Pradesh MLAs 2002-2007