Mayawati, Swami Prasad Maurya trade charges

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati on Saturday downplayed the exit of party leader Swami Prasad Maurya and told her legislators that this would have no impact on the party’s fortunes.

Terming Mr Maurya a “traitor and selfish man”, she said that he had left the party for personal interest.

Addressing a meeting of BSP MLAs, Ms Mayawati went out of her way to assure them that the Maurya, Kushwaha, Shakya and Saini communities would continue to get importance and respect in the party and they would not be punished for the deeds of an individual (Maurya).

The BSP president ruled out the possibility of Mr Maurya’s re-entry into the party, saying history was replete with instances that those who left the party faded into political oblivion. “In any case, he did not belong to the BSP cadre and had been member of other parties before he joined BSP. Those who have left the BSP in the past have failed to survive in politics and Swami Prasad Maurya will meet the same fate,” she said.

Meanwhile, Mr Maurya said Ms Mayawati’s statements to the media amply reflected her nervousness after his exit. He said that her base among dalits and OBC had started shifting and the results would soon be there for all to see.

Talking to reporters, he said that he was in constant touch with a number of ex-BSP leaders and sitting party legislators but would reveal his plans after a meeting on July 1.

Meanwhile, at a meeting of BSP legislators on Saturday, Gaya Charan Dinkar was elected as the new leader of the legislature party and also as Leader of the Opposition. He will replace Mr Swami Prasad Maurya in the coveted post.

A dalit leader from Banda, Mr Dinkar was elected by BSP MLAs in the presence of Ms Mayawati. He represents the Naraini constituency in Banda and was first elected to the state Assembly in 1991.