Mayawati elected BSP chief for 2nd term;to name her successor

Lucknow, Aug 27 (UNI) Bahujan Samaj Party(BSP) supremo Mayawati was today elected national president of the party unopposed for the second consecutive term even as she disclosed that her political successor would be announced in the due course.

Addressing the party workers after being elected to the post, Ms Mayawati said that she was made the political successor of Mr Kanshi Ram when she was very young and now she would do the same in coming days.

However, the BSP president made it clear that neither the successor would not be from her family nor of any other castes except from the Schedule Castes, and be 30 to 35 years younger.

''I want a young person to be my political successor so that leader can get enough political training to fight for the party ideology just like I am performing my duty'', she further claimed.

She said a name would be announced at the opportun time, the former UP Chief minister assured that the successor would not be from her family.

Reiterating her committment to continue the ''self-respect movement'' launched by the party founder Kanshi Ram, she urged the party workers to support her. ''I want all your support by 'Tan-Man-Dhan'', she said.

Ms Mayawati was declared elected to the post of the party president for the second term for next 3 years by Returning Officer Ambat Rajan.

Ms Mayawati was the only candidate for the post and was proposed by the presidents and vice-presidents of the party's units in all 20 states, Mr Ambat announced.

Over 970 party delegates had also supported her name for the post.

The party president's election was be held a month in advance as the state is going to polls early next year .

Ms Mayawati had suceeded Mr Kanshi Ram as the party president in September 2003.

UNI MB YA KN1453