Mayawati Targets SP Over Rajya Sabha Picks
BSP chief alleges dynastic politics and preference for wealthy candidates, questioning SP’s PDA outreach
- Mayawati criticised SP’s Rajya Sabha nominations.
- She questioned the party’s PDA political messaging.
- SP has named Ram Gopal Yadav and Dhanraj Nathwani.
- Nathwani’s corporate background has drawn political attention.
GG News Bureau
Lucknow, 2nd Oct: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati on Friday criticised the Samajwadi Party (SP) over its recent Rajya Sabha nominations, alleging that the party’s candidate choices do not align with its political emphasis on PDA — Pichhda, Dalit and Alpsankhyak communities.
In posts on X, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister accused the SP of practising what she described as dynastic politics and giving preference to wealthy industrialists. Her remarks came after the SP named senior leader Ram Gopal Yadav and corporate executive Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani as candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh.
Mayawati pointed to Ram Gopal Yadav’s relationship with SP president Akhilesh Yadav, who is his nephew, while referring to Nathwani’s corporate background. Nathwani is a senior Reliance Industries executive and the son of Rajya Sabha MP Parimal Nathwani.
Mayawati also questioned the possibility of the SP fielding a third candidate and suggested that the move could be intended to avoid political embarrassment if the candidate fails to secure enough support. The SP has indicated that it may field another candidate in the Uttar Pradesh contest.
She contrasted the SP’s candidate selections with the BSP’s stated approach, claiming that her party gives electoral opportunities to dedicated Ambedkarite workers from poor, middle-class and weaker sections rather than relying on family members or wealthy industrialists.
Mayawati further alleged that the SP’s description of itself as a socialist and PDA-oriented party was inconsistent with its candidate-selection pattern. She appealed to Dalits, tribals, extremely backward classes, Muslims and other minority communities, as well as economically weaker sections, to remain alert ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
The SP has not, in the material cited here, responded specifically to Mayawati’s allegations. The party’s nomination of Nathwani has separately generated political discussion because of his corporate background and his father’s political career across different parties.
