Mayawati Hints at PM Ambitions, Says Time to Chant ‘Jai Bhim’

Mayawati said that she might contest from Amedkar Nagar as the “road to national politics” passes through there.

Mayawati indicated that if she gets a chance to become the Prime Minister, she will contest the Lok Sabha election from Ambedkar Nagar.

(Photo: The Quint)

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President Mayawati on Monday, 6 May, indicated that if she gets a chance to become the prime minister, she will contest the Lok Sabha elections from Ambedkar Nagar.

“If all goes well, I may have to seek election form here because the road to national politics passes through Ambedkar Nagar,” Mayawati said while addressing a rally in  Ambedkar Nagar.  

Addressing the rally the backdrop of her cut-out in which she is seen standing outside Parliament, Mayawati said that the era of 'Namo Namo' was over and time had come for those who chant ‘Jai Bhim'.

This is the first time in these elections that Mayawati has given clear indications about her aspirations for the prime minister’s post.

Mayawati’s statement comes just a day after her ally and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said that the next prime minister could be somebody from the Mahagathbandhan. Yadav has repeatedly said that he would back Mayawati as prime minister.

PM Could Be From Mahagathbandhan: Akhilesh Yadav

Describing Narendra Modi as a “180-degree prime minister”, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday, 5 May said the country is set to have a new PM who could be from the grand alliance his party has forged in UP with Mayawati’s BSP and Ajit Singh’s RLD.

In an interview to PTI during his election campaign, Yadav said, “SP-BSP-RLD alliance is working on the ground and it is the people who are fighting the election for success of the alliance. It will win maximum seats.”

Yadav said the alliance is all about ushering a new era of development in Uttar Pradesh by ensuring social justice and it would continue for 2022 Assembly elections as well.

He said the country is going to have a new prime minister this year and it is this alliance which will decide who will be that person.

Asked whether the next prime minister could be from the grand alliance, he said, “Why not?”

In an interview to NDTV, Yadav had said, “I want the next prime minister to come from Uttar Pradesh. It will be my effort to have a Prime Minister from this state, but I don't mind if someone from another part of the country becomes the Prime Minister either.”

Attacking Prime Minister Modi, Yadav said demonetisation was a "disaster" for the Indian economy.

"Modiji is 180 degree prime minister, he does totally opposite to what he says," he said.

The former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh said it was he who had approached Mayawati for the grand alliance. He said the grand alliance was required due to the prevailing situation and circumstances.

"People wanted something to glue with and this alliance has given them that,” he said.

Mayawati has won the Lok Sabha elections from Ambedkar Nagar four times – 1989, 1998, 1999 and 2004.

(With inputs from IANS and PTI)