Will complete Ayodhya, Mathura, Varanasi work if BSP wins: Mayawati

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati said in her first major public address in the run-up to the Uttar Pradesh assembly election that if the party comes to power, it will not terminate schemes run by the Centre and previous state governments out of political revenge if they are found to be benefiting people and that works begun by the BJP in religious towns such as Ayodhya, Varanasi and Mathura will be completed.
She was addressing a massive crowd of BSP workers at the Kanshiram memorial on Saturday, on the BSP founder's death anniversary.

"We will also not indulge in the drama of changing names of projects and schemes pioneered by SP or BJP governments. I mean to say that in the state, all works done by BJP and SP will be examined objectively and the works that are right and beneficial will be taken forward and not stopped," said Mayawati.

She also said that before moving to build new hospitals, medical colleges or educational institutions, the condition of existing ones will be improved as their "dismal" condition was revealed during Covid-19. Similarly, she said, the existing road network will be strengthened so that accidents do not take place, before new roads and highways are built.

Besides putting across the broad intent of the party and key issues that it will address if it comes to power, Mayawati "cautioned" the thousands of party workers who had come from across the state against the challenges that they might face moving closer to polls.

She also announced that the party will kick-start a programme of preparing workers booth and constituency-wise from October 21 on a war footing and directed workers to take announcements she made on September 7 and on Saturday in the form of a booklet to people across the state. The BSP does not announce a manifesto.

"As elections draw closer, the way the Centre and state governments led by the BJP are using government machinery to create a positive sentiment for it is not hidden from anyone. It is possible that if this does not work, then they will in some way or the other, try to give the polls a communal colour and bring in Hindu-Muslim division to reap political benefits, which you also have to factor in," said Mayawati.

She said she will also write to the Election Commission demanding that all pre-poll surveys done by agencies be banned six months ahead of casting of votes.

As both the BJP and SP are taking the help of smaller parties to reach out to their non-core voter base, Mayawati also cautioned people not to "waste" their votes by supporting the smaller parties even out of caste considerations or familiarity.