Samajwadi Party preaches social justice but gives tickets to the privileged, Mayawati alleges

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) National President Mayawati. File | Photo Credit: PTI Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati on Friday (October 2, 2026) accused the Samajwadi Party (SP) of practicing dynastic politics and favouring wealthy industrialists. She alleged that its recent Rajya Sabha nominations contradicted its claims of fighting for the backwards, Dalits, and minority communities.“As you know very well the BSP does not give tickets to family members, capitalists, and the wealthy. Instead, it chooses hardworking Ambedkarites from among the poor, middle class, and weaker sections of society. The BSP’s politics are clean and free from nepotism and money power. The SP does exactly the opposite; it pretends to be Socialist, and a party of the so-called PDA,” Ms. Mayawati wrote on X.“Another notable example is the SP’s decision to nominate Mr. Ramgopal Yadav, a close relative of the SP chief, for the Rajya Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh. The SP has also nominated Mr. Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani, a prominent businessman, as its second candidate. As before, the SP’s third candidate will most likely be a face-saving measure and a losing candidate. This is the true nature of the SP. The SP needs the PDA to vote, but it primarily elects its own family members and capitalists as MPs and MLAs. Therefore, it would be wise for the public not to be misled by their PDA rhetoric.”The BSP president warned the backward classes, Dalits, tribals, and minorities to be aware of the SP’s double standards. She said the SP’s social justice plank was an illusion. “The poor amongst the upper castes, the Bahujan Samaj, Muslims, and other religious minority communities should be aware that their interests are safe only with the Ambedkarite BSP,” Ms. Mayawati added. Published - October 02, 2026 10:27 pm IST