Deprived-caste party sweeps to victory in key Indian state

LUCKNOW, Saturday (AFP) - A party of deprived-caste Hindus headed by a fiery woman politician swept to victory on Friday in India's most populous state, the election commission said.

Former school teacher Mayawati Kumari's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has so far won 202 constituencies to give her an absolute majority in the 403-seat Uttar Pradesh state assembly.

“She has won 202 of the 396 seats announced so far which makes her BSP party the single largest entity in the state assembly,” a commission spokesman told reporters in the state capital Lucknow. “Results of the remaining seats will be announced very soon,” he added.

The surprise result offered the tough-talking Mayawati a fourth term as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and the BSP was set to become the first party in 14 years to rule alone in the influential northern state of 180 million people. The 51-year-old Mayawati sounded jubilant.

“On the basis of this fantastic win I say with pride that it's the victory of the hopes of the downtrodden classes,” Mayawati told reporters. “The people of the state have also proved they believe in democracy and I promise we will unshackle the millions from a regime of fear, injustice and will offer them full democratic rights,” she added.

Mayawati's arch-foe, incumbent chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, leader of the socialist Samajwadi Party, conceded defeat and quit his post. The Congress party, which heads the ruling federal coalition, failed to make a breakthrough in the state it dominated until 1989.

Mayawati's euphoric supporters let off firecrackers, danced in the streets and gave each other sweets as the decisive result was announced. The fiery politician was born into a “Chamar” or leatherworkers' family — at the bottom of India's rigid caste hierarchy — on the outskirts of New Delhi.

She first became chief minister of the state in 1995. Although her first term lasted less than six months, “behenji” or “sister” as she is called, became an icon for millions of India's oppressed and marginalised. Political columnist Neera Choudhury said the BSP's performance was a “major achievement” for Mayawati as she steered the poll campaign “single-handedl”.

“I can see (India's) lower-castes (numbering more than 165 million) getting really charged up and feeling empowered by this win,” she said. “I think this win will also have a ripple effect — on elections in at least four major states coming up next year.”
The polls, held in seven rounds over a month, saw tens of millions vote.

Exit polls had forecast a hung assembly. Analysts said Mayawati's campaign succeeded better than expected as she aimed it at attracting votes from upper-caste Brahmins as well as Muslims.“The woman who once asked her supporters to beat the upper castes with their shoes ran an inclusive campaign this time which turned the tide in her favour,” analyst Rasheed Kidwai said.