LUCKNOW: Days after her aide and party general secretary SC Mishra announced she won’t contest, Mayawati said in her birthday address that she could become chief minister by taking the Vidhan Parishad route.
Observing a quiet birthday in Lucknow, Mayawati told party workers that when Kanshiram was alive and well, he managed the party and she would be free to contest. Now, she’s burdened with handling party work and her job is to ensure others win. “I can even become CM by entering the Parishad,” she said. “The Opposition is plotting against me and asking why I didn’t hit the campaign trail. They are giving the impression I didn’t contest polls ever. They should know I have been a member of Lok Sabha four times, of the Rajya Sabha thrice, an MLA twice and an MLC twice. When poll results are declared, no survey or opinion poll will hold true. BSP will win with full majority,” she said.
She hit out at the Opposition for targeting her nephew, Akash Anand, saying while she’s busy managing elections, he handles non-election states. “When the time is right, he and other young members will get their chance in electoral politics,” she said and lauded SC Mishra’s son, Kapil, for handling of BSP’s youth affairs in UP.
Taking on the Opposition for questioning Akash’s absence in UP elections, she said, “I have no family. All poor, Dalits, and backwards are my family. Crores of youngsters are my nieces and nephews, whose parents call me Behenji. These children also call me Behenji. They should be given chance to move forward in life. If they continue hounding Akash, then like Kanshiram ji, I will promote him even more in the party. SC Mishra ji’s son Kapil has also been working to induct youth in the party and I am confident more youth will vote for BSP this time,” she said.
