UP poll: Mayawati releases BSP list on colourless B'day

Lucknow, Jan 15: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mayawati decided not to celebrate her 56th birthday on Sunday, Jan 15 but did not forget to fulfill her duties towards her party and towards the state ahead of the crucial assembly election. Mayawati on Sunday released Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) candidate list for 403 seats for the upcoming assembly poll 2012.

Once again candidates representing backward classes grabbed many seats as Mayawati allocated 88 tickets to scheduled caste (SC) candidates, 103 to other backward castes. Muslim candidates got 85 tickets while a total of 117 tickets have been given to upper caste candidates. Out of the tickets given to the upper class candidates, 74 have been given brahmin candidates, while 33 were handed over to Kshatriyas. [Read: Maya spits fire at Election Comm, calls it anti-dalit]

While releasing BSP candidate list, Mayawati stated, "Last time, we made a mistake by giving tickets to wrong people who gave the party a bad name. We have not given tickets to tainted ministers this. They were hampering the party's movement."

However, bashing the Election Commission (EC) over its decision to cover up Mayawati's statues and BSP symbol - elephant all across the state, the UP CM chided, "The Election Commission should have taken the right decision. The decision was one sided. It did not hear BSP's side. The decision was anti-Dalit and taken with a casteist ideology."

Earlier Mayawati announced that BSP would not celebrate her birthday as it might violate the code of conduct issued by the EC. "The party has not organised any celebrations on my birthday this year as it could violate the model code of conduct. The party workers will be celebrating with their families," said Mayawati.

OneIndia News