Politics – Mayawati Criticises Congress and SP Over Reservation Stances
Politics – Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati on Friday launched a sharp critique of both the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP), accusing them of shifting positions on key issues related to caste-based reservations and women’s representation. Her remarks come at a time when discussions are ongoing around the implementation of the women’s reservation law and its connection with the delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census.
Questions Raised Over Historical Commitment
In a statement shared on social media platform X, Mayawati questioned the Congress party’s historical role in safeguarding the constitutional and legal rights of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). She alleged that despite now speaking about representation within the framework of women’s reservation, the party had failed to act decisively on these matters during its time in power at the Centre.
She pointed out that the implementation of the Mandal Commission’s recommendation for 27 percent reservation for OBCs in government jobs and educational institutions did not take place under Congress-led governments. Instead, she credited the government of former Prime Minister V.P. Singh, along with efforts associated with the BSP, for pushing the policy forward. According to her, this reflects a pattern of inconsistency in Congress’s approach to social justice issues.
Criticism of Samajwadi Party’s Record in Uttar Pradesh
Mayawati also directed her criticism toward the Samajwadi Party, particularly focusing on its governance record in Uttar Pradesh. She claimed that during its tenure, the SP government did not act on a 1994 report of the Backward Classes Commission, which recommended extending OBC benefits to backward Muslim communities.
According to her account, this recommendation remained unimplemented until the BSP formed the government in the state in 1995, when the proposal was promptly acted upon. She argued that the SP’s current position on providing separate reservations for women from specific communities contrasts with its earlier inaction, suggesting a shift driven by political considerations.
She further stated that such changes in stance create confusion among voters and reflect a broader pattern where political parties adopt different approaches depending on whether they are in power or in opposition.
Delimitation and Women’s Reservation Debate
Addressing the issue of implementing women’s reservation alongside delimitation based on the 2011 Census, Mayawati suggested that any ruling party would likely follow a similar course of action if it aimed for quick implementation.
She remarked that if Congress were currently in power at the Centre, it might have taken a similar decision regarding the use of existing census data for delimitation. Her comments indicate that the debate is less about individual parties and more about the practical constraints surrounding the rollout of the reservation law.
At the same time, she emphasized that no major political party has consistently prioritised the long-term welfare and empowerment of SC, ST, OBC, and Muslim communities. According to her, these groups have often been at the centre of political discourse but have not always seen sustained policy attention.
Call for Awareness and Self-Reliance
In her concluding remarks, Mayawati urged members of OBC and other marginalised communities to remain cautious and not be influenced by short-term political promises or inducements. She advised them to focus on strengthening their social and economic position through self-reliance.
She also suggested that while the current provisions under women’s reservation should be accepted for now, there may be opportunities in the future to ensure more comprehensive representation. Until then, she stressed the importance of community awareness and collective progress.
Her comments add to the broader political debate surrounding representation, social justice, and electoral reforms, which are expected to remain key issues in the coming months.
Tags: Mayawati, BSP, Congress, Samajwadi Party, Women Reservation, Delimitation, OBC, SC ST, Indian Politics, Mandal Commission, Uttar Pradesh, Census 2011,