Mayawati Reveals Rift with Akhilesh Yadav Post-2019 Elections

BSP chief Mayawati disclosed the reasons behind the fallout with SP's Akhilesh Yadav after their failed 2019 Lok Sabha election alliance. She cited Yadav's unresponsiveness and the need to protect her party's dignity. Mayawati also criticized SP's recent success with Congress, accusing them of misleading PDA communities.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Thursday disclosed the reasons behind the fallout with Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. She revealed that Yadav stopped responding to calls from BSP leaders following the alliance's poor performance. Mayawati detailed this disclosure in a newly released booklet, stating that she ended the alliance to safeguard the party's honour.

The SP and BSP fought the 2019 Lok Sabha elections together but only managed to secure 15 seats in Uttar Pradesh. Mayawati won 10 seats, while Akhilesh Yadav secured five. Initially, Yadav proposed the alliance to counter the BJP, even overlooking past grievances. However, after the disappointing results, he ceased communication with BSP leadership, prompting Mayawati to dissolve the alliance.

In the booklet, Mayawati criticized the recent 2024 Lok Sabha alliance between SP and Congress, accusing them of misleading PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, and Alpasankhyak) communities under the guise of protecting the Constitution and reservation. She warned that such alliances would not benefit PDA communities in the long run. The BSP's booklet aims to educate party workers about the party's ideology and strategy for upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

(With inputs from agencies.)