Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Thursday sharply criticised the Samajwadi Party (SP) for its plan to observe the birth anniversary of BSP founder Kanshi Ram as 'PDA Day' on March 15, describing it as "political theatrics" and an attempt to gain votes from marginalised communities.

In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) in Hindi, Mayawati accused the Akhilesh Yadav-led SP of indulging in "pure political drama" aimed at misleading Dalits, OBCs, and the broader Bahujan society. She alleged that the SP has historically shown disrespect towards Kanshi Ram and Dalit icons, citing examples where successive SP governments changed the names of districts and institutions dedicated to Dalit leaders, including the renaming of Kanshi Ram Nagar district established during a previous BSP regime. Mayawati claimed such actions reflected the SP's opposition to the interests of Dalits, backwards classes, and minorities.

The controversy stems from SP chief Akhilesh Yadav's directive to party leaders to celebrate Kanshi Ram's birth anniversary—March 15—as "Bahujan Samaj Diwas" or "PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) Diwas" at district headquarters across Uttar Pradesh. The SP intends to hold large-scale programmes paying tributes to Kanshi Ram while promoting unity among Pichhde (backwards), Dalits, and Alpsankhyak (minorities), aligning with its ongoing PDA outreach to consolidate non-upper caste votes ahead of future elections.

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Mayawati warned BSP supporters to remain vigilant against what she termed opportunistic moves by the SP, asserting that the party's "conduct, character, and face" have long demonstrated anti-Bahujan tendencies. She argued that celebrating 'PDA Day' on Kanshi Ram's jayanti was a calculated bid for political mileage rather than genuine respect for the BSP founder's legacy of social justice and empowerment for the oppressed.

This exchange highlights intensifying political rivalry in Uttar Pradesh between the BSP and SP, both vying for influence among Dalit and backward caste voters. Kanshi Ram, who founded the BSP in 1984 to champion Bahujan rights, is revered in Dalit politics, and attempts to appropriate his commemorations often spark sharp reactions. Mayawati's rebuke comes amid efforts by various parties to expand their social base in the state, where caste dynamics remain central to electoral strategies.

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