Lucknow: In a sharp political attack, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Thursday accused the Samajwadi Party (SP) of exploiting Dalits under the guise of its recently launched PDA (Pichhde, Dalit, Alpsankhyak – Backward, Dalit, Minority) campaign. She alleged that SP leaders are using the campaign as a cover to manipulate Dalit sentiments for political advantage.
Her remarks come at a time when the SP is actively trying to consolidate support among backward classes, Dalits, and minority communities in Uttar Pradesh, ahead of key electoral battles.
Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Mayawati posted a series of statements alleging that SP, like many other political parties, is using Dalits as “political tools” to stoke unrest and violence for selfish gains.
“It is widely known that just like other parties, the Samajwadi Party also uses Dalit individuals as political pawns to create tension and incite violence,” she wrote. “The controversial statements, blame games, and public programmes being run under this strategy reveal their deeply selfish political motives.”
Mayawati also issued a cautionary note to the Dalit, backward, and Muslim communities, urging them not to fall prey to what she termed as SP’s deceptive tactics.
“SP can go to any extent for Dalit votes,” she said. “Hence, the Dalits, along with the backward and Muslim communities, must be wary of their misleading ploys.”
In a third post, the BSP supremo addressed the recent controversy triggered by SP Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman’s remarks on Rajput ruler Rana Sanga. Without naming him directly, Mayawati advised Dalit leaders not to engage in contentious commentary on other communities’ icons.
“It would be better if opportunistic Dalit leaders associated with such parties focus on educating people about the saints, gurus, and icons of their own community and their struggles, instead of attacking historical figures from other castes,” she added. “This is the true path to empowerment.”
Mayawati’s pointed criticism underscores the intensifying competition for marginalized votes in Uttar Pradesh, with both SP and BSP vying to assert themselves as the true representatives of socially and economically weaker sections.
