Mayawati

One of the most redoubtable leaders this country has churned out from its inordinate political belt, Mayawati made history when she became the first-ever Dalit woman in India to serve as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. She's served four terms as Chief Minister resigning in 2012 after suffering a devastating blow in the assembly elections. She is also the national president of BSP. A former teacher by vocation, her foray into politics began when she was approached by BSP founder Kashi Ram. He ingratiated her into politics and in 1995 ceded his leadership to Mayawati. Touted as the best Chief Minister, Mayawati is lauded with praises for efficient governance and promoting law and order. Her first and second acts as Chief Minister came to an abrupt end, merely serving months in office before she was forced to tender her resignation. Her third term lasted a year and she served a full fourth term in office. During this time her government began a major crackdown on irregularities in the recruitment process of police officers recruited during the previous Mulayam Singh government. She won her first Lok Sabha election in 1989 from Bijnor constituency. She was elected to Rajya Sabha in 1994. She went on to serve three more terms in Lok Sabha from Akbarpur constituency in 1998-2004. In 2014, Mayawati's party was decimated by BJP in the general elections, where BSP failed to retain even a single seat in the state. However, recent developments indicate that she is slowly but surely digging her way out of the political grave. Her alliance with SP and winning the mayoral seats from Aligarh and Meerut are perhaps signs of changing tides.