Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) National President and four-time former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati, convened a high-level meeting in Lucknow on Sunday with over 430 party coordinators from across India, excluding Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
The two-hour-long session focused on strengthening the party organization and expanding its grassroots presence across the country.
Mayawati emphasized that the time had come for BSP to reassert itself as a powerful national force, rooted in the vision of social transformation and economic emancipation laid down by party founder Kanshi Ram and Dr BR Ambedkar.
She urged party workers to replicate the energy and commitment shown by lakhs of supporters during the October 9 rally in Lucknow commemorating Kanshi Ram’s 19th death anniversary.
Also present at the meeting were her nephew and party’s vice-president Akash Anand, his father Anand Kumar, and senior BSP leader Satish Chandra Mishra. As Mayawati entered the hall, Akash Anand touched her feet in a gesture of respect. The seating arrangement reflected her singular leadership, with a central chair for her and three side chairs for her close aides.
In a significant move during the meeting, Mayawati called upon all BSP leaders and coordinators to extend their full support to her nephew Akash Anand. Drawing a parallel with her own rise, she said, “Just as you have always stood by me and strengthened the party, I urge you to stand firmly with Akash as well.” This statement was seen as a clear signal that Mayawati is gradually grooming Akash for a more prominent leadership role within the party.
During the meeting, Mayawati reviewed the party’s performance and organizational groundwork in each state (except UP and Uttarakhand, which had their separate review on October 16). She issued specific directives to coordinators to fill gaps, address emerging political challenges, and connect more deeply with the masses across all communities.
Highlighting the unprecedented success of the October 9 mega-event at the Kanshi Ram Memorial in Lucknow, Mayawati described it as a turning point. “The zeal and determination shown by the people of Uttar Pradesh, from every village, is exemplary and must be emulated in other states. Only then can BSP’s mission be realized and the true intent of the Constitution, as envisioned by Babasaheb Ambedkar, be fulfilled,” she said.
Mayawati also expressed deep concern over the current socio-political climate in India. She condemned the increasing poverty, unemployment, inflation, rising caste and communal violence, and widespread corruption. She warned that governments are straying from constitutional duties, driven by narrow political gains, which is harming both the people and the nation’s global reputation.
In a stern message, she referred to recent troubling events such as caste-based discrimination even in the judiciary, including a tragic incident involving a senior police officer in Haryana. “Such incidents are a matter of national shame, and yet, there is a disturbing lack of adequate response from the government and institutions that are supposed to uphold justice and equality,” she stated.
Mayawati made it clear that the BSP does not function on the support of big industrialists or wealthy donors like other parties. “We are a mission-driven party committed to Ambedkarite values, and our loyalty lies with the poor and marginalized—Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs, Muslims, and other religious minorities,” she asserted.
She recalled how, during her tenure as Chief Minister, BSP governments in Uttar Pradesh ensured safety, dignity, and representation for all, setting an example of good governance. She urged party workers to remain focused and work with dedication to bring back such governance at both state and national levels.
Mayawati also appealed for voluntary financial contributions on her birthday, January 15, a long-standing tradition in the party. She explained that BSP aims to uplift the underprivileged, turning them from “receivers to givers,” and that this mission requires unwavering support—physically, mentally, and financially.
Participants in the meeting congratulated her on the massive success of the October 9 event and pledged to take her message to every village in their respective states. They vowed to strengthen the party’s base and ensure its meaningful participation in government.
Mayawati thanked all coordinators for their dedication, expressing confidence that the BSP’s inclusive and dignified politics would continue to grow and bring about the social change envisioned by its founders.