Mayawati warns of rising misuse of public funds to influence elections

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) national president and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has alleged that several ruling parties across the country are increasingly misusing public funds to influence voter sentiment, calling it a “dangerous new trend” that threatens the democratic process.

Speaking at a multi-state review meeting of BSP units from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, and Jharkhand on Wednesday, Mayawati said that while elections were previously manipulated using money power and administrative machinery, the situation has now escalated.

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According to her, governments are “using taxpayer money to buy public opinion,” creating an uneven playing field for opposition parties.

Mayawati said the recent election results, including those of the Bihar Assembly, should serve as a warning.

“Earlier, ruling parties influenced elections through misuse of government machinery. Now, they are openly spending government funds to sway public sentiment. This has made the challenge of winning elections many times more difficult,” she said.

She reiterated that marginalized communities including Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs, and Muslims continue to face severe socio-economic hardships across states.

Mayawati accused governments of weakening the reservation system by not filling backlog vacancies, reducing constitutional rights to “mere symbolism.”

Emphasizing the need for stronger organizational preparation, she urged BSP workers to intensify efforts to expand the party’s base across all communities.

She also stressed the importance of monitoring the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in 12 states to ensure people are not deprived of their voting rights.

Mayawati instructed state units to organize Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Parinirvan Diwas programs on December 6, 2025, with full missionary spirit, distancing the BSP’s approach from what she described as the “superficial and vote-driven” events of rival parties.

She urged party cadres to draw inspiration from Dr. Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram and to work tirelessly to strengthen the movement aimed at empowering the Bahujan community.