Mayawati – BSP Chief Urges Restoration of District Names Honouring Dalit Icons
Mayawati – Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati has called for the restoration of district names originally dedicated to prominent Dalit and Other Backward Classes leaders, while thanking the Uttar Pradesh government for reinstating the name of Sant Ravidas Nagar.
Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati on Friday criticised the Samajwadi Party (SP), accusing it of changing the names of districts established during the BSP’s tenure because of what she described as a narrow caste-based political approach. She welcomed the Yogi Adityanath-led government’s decision to restore the name of Sant Ravidas Nagar and appealed for similar action in the case of other districts, including Kanshiram Nagar.
Mayawati Welcomes Sant Ravidas Nagar Decision
In a message shared on social media platform X, Mayawati expressed appreciation for the state government’s move to reinstate the Sant Ravidas Nagar name. She said the district had originally been created during the BSP administration after Bhadohi was granted district headquarters status. According to her, the subsequent Samajwadi Party government later changed the district’s name, a decision she claimed was driven by political considerations.
The BSP leader stated that the restoration of the original name was a positive step and thanked the Uttar Pradesh government for recognising the historical identity associated with the district.
BSP Highlights Administrative Reforms During Its Rule
Recalling her tenure as Chief Minister, Mayawati said her governments established several new districts, tehsils, development blocks and police administrative units with the objective of improving governance and bringing public services closer to residents.
She noted that a number of these newly created districts were named after respected saints, social reformers and leaders from Dalit and OBC communities. Among the examples she mentioned were Sant Ravidas Nagar, Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Nagar and Bhim Nagar. According to Mayawati, these names reflected the contributions of influential social figures while also serving administrative purposes.
Criticism of Previous Name Changes
Mayawati alleged that the Samajwadi Party administration later altered the names of several districts introduced during the BSP government. She argued that these decisions were politically motivated and reflected what she called a caste-centric mindset.
The BSP chief maintained that residents had not forgotten the renaming of districts associated with prominent Dalit and OBC personalities. She asserted that the original names carried historical and social significance and should be restored.
Remarks on Kanshiram Nagar and PDA Politics
The former Chief Minister also referred to Kanshiram Nagar, stating that the district had been created after granting Kasganj district headquarters status to support the region’s development. She said it was named in honour of BSP founder Kanshi Ram, but the designation was later changed by the Samajwadi Party government.
Mayawati further criticised the SP over its PDA (Pichda, Dalit, Alpasankhyak) political slogan, alleging that the party’s earlier decisions regarding district names were inconsistent with its public messaging on representing backward classes, Dalits and minorities.
Appeal to the Uttar Pradesh Government
Calling for further action, Mayawati urged the Uttar Pradesh government to continue restoring the original names of districts dedicated to notable social reformers and leaders. She suggested that completing the process on or before October 9, observed as the Parinirvan Diwas of BSP founder Kanshi Ram, would carry symbolic importance.
According to Mayawati, restoring these names would recognise the legacy of influential personalities and preserve the historical identity associated with districts created during the BSP administration.