Mayawati accuses SP of dynastic politics, favouring capitalists in Rajya Sabha nominations
BSP chief Mayawati on Friday criticised the Samajwadi Party, alleging that it follows dynastic politics and gives preference to wealthy industrialists despite seeking support from backward, Dalit and minority communities.
In a post on X, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said the SP asks voters to support it under its PDA — Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak — formulation, but allegedly gives positions such as MP and MLA tickets largely to members of the Yadav family and affluent industrialists.
Mayawati referred to the SP's decision to renominate senior leader Ram Gopal Yadav, who is the uncle of party president Akhilesh Yadav, and to nominate Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani, a Reliance Industries executive, for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh.
She also raised questions over the possibility of the SP putting up a third candidate, saying the move could be an attempt to avoid losing face if the candidate is defeated.
"SP wants votes in the name of PDA, but makes mostly its own family members and big capitalists MPs and MLAs," Mayawati said, asking voters not to be influenced by the party's PDA narrative.
Mayawati further claimed that the BSP follows a different approach to selecting candidates and does not depend on family members, relatives or wealthy industrialists. She said the party instead gives opportunities to Ambedkarite workers from poor, middle-class and weaker sections.
She described the BSP's politics as being free from dynastic considerations and the influence of money power, while alleging that the SP's claims of being a socialist party representing PDA were merely political pretence.
Ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Mayawati appealed to poor people from upper-caste communities and members of the Bahujan Samaj, including Dalits, tribals, extremely backward classes, Muslims and other religious minorities, to remain alert.
She claimed that the BSP was best placed to protect the interests of these communities and accused the SP of following what she described as a "double-faced" approach to politics over the years. (with inputs from PTI)
