Mayawati Praises UP CM Yogi, Slams Akhilesh Yadav; BJP Welcomes

In a significant political realignment, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Thursday praised the ruling BJP government for its upkeep of Dalit memorials while launching a scathing attack on the rival Samajwadi Party (SP) for what she termed "disrespect and neglect."

The unexpected praise, delivered during a speech marking the death anniversary of BSP founder Kanshi Ram, was warmly received by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but drew sharp accusations of "collusion" from SP president Akhilesh Yadav, igniting a fresh war of words in the state.

Mayawati thanked Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's administration for honouring her request to use revenue from visitor tickets for the maintenance of parks and memorials built during her tenure, NDTV reported.

"The BJP government assured us that this money would not be diverted elsewhere but would be used only for upkeep - and they did so," Mayawati told supporters. "For this, our party is thankful to them."

In contrast, she accused the previous SP government of pocketing the revenue without spending "a single rupee on their upkeep."

The BJP government welcomed the endorsement. Asim Arun, a minister in the state government, thanked the BSP chief on behalf of his party. "Behen ji (Mayawati) has shown a 'bada dil' (big heart) by recognising the government's efforts," he stated.

Mayawati's criticism of the Samajwadi Party was pointed, accusing its leaders of remembering Dalit icons only for political gain when out of power. Citing an example of alleged disrespect, she asked, "If he [Akhilesh Yadav] really has so much respect for Kanshi Ram Ji, then why did he change the name of Kanshi Ram Nagar back to Kasganj?"

The Samajwadi Party hit back swiftly. In a post on social media, Akhilesh Yadav suggested the praise was proof of a hidden alliance. "Because 'their' internal collusion continues," he wrote, "that is why they are grateful to their oppressors."

The public exchange highlights the complex and shifting political dynamics in Uttar Pradesh, as parties begin to position themselves ahead of future electoral contests.