Mayawati's resignation evokes mixed responses; BJP terms it as 'political stunt'

Lucknow: The resignation of BSP chief Mayawati from Rajya Sabha has evoked mixed response from different political parties in Uttar Pradesh, with BJP terming it as a “political stunt” while Congress and Samajwadi Party held the Centre’s attitude responsible for her abrupt decision. [caption id=“attachment_3832073” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File image of Mayawati. PTI[/caption] “BSP supremo Mayawati is unable to digest the results of 2014 Lok Sabha elections and 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. People of Uttar Pradesh have grossly rejected partisan and communal politics. They are looking forward to progress and development of the state,” Uttar Pradesh BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi said. He described her resignation as “political stunt and emotional drama”. Apna Dal (Sonelal), an ally of BJP-led NDA, attributed her decision to “massive erosion” in her support base. “BSP chief Mayawati is feeling threatened by the rise of Anupriya Patel, whom the backwards and Dalits are looking up as their leader. Mayawati’s votebase has seen a massive erosion, which has apparently upset her,” Apna Dal (S) spokesperson Arvind Sharma said. Anupriya, a senior party leader, is a Union minister and represents Mirzapur in Lok Sabha. The Congress said that the Dalit leader took the sudden decision to quit Rajya Sabha as the BJP had unleashed “autocratic rule” throughout the country. Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Ashok Singh alleged that ever since the BJP governmet came to power in the state, there has been an increase in crime and atrocities against Dalits. “Mayawati had to tender resignation only to attract the attention of the government, which is working against the interest of Dalits in the state. If Mayawati wanted to say something about Saharanpur incident, she should have been allowed,” Singh said. Chief spokesperson of Samajwadi Party, an ally of Congress in the state, Rajendra Chaudhary alleged that Mayawati’s right to speech and expression was violated in the Rajya Sabha. President of Rashtriya Kisan Manch, a local outfit, Shekhar Dixit too backed Mayawati, saying her step was “right”. “Mayawati took the right step as she was not allowed to speak and present her point of view,” he said. Mayawati’s resignation from the Rajya Sabha was accepted on Thursday by Chairman Hamid Ansari. The BSP supremo had resigned from the House in a huff on Wednesday, accusing the BJP and the Chair of not allowing her to raise the issue of anti-Dalit violence in Uttar Pradesh in the Parliament.