Mayawati’s resignation accepted

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 20

BSP supremo Mayawati’s resignation from the Rajya Sabha has been accepted by Chairman Hamid Ansari. Officials said Mayawati had submitted a fresh resignation letter as per the prescribed format, which was accepted by Ansari today

Accusing the BJP and the Chair of not allowing her to raise the issue of anti-Dalit violence in Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati resigned from the House on Wednesday. The three-page resignation letter she submitted was rejected as it was not in the requisite format.

As per the format, the resignation letter should be brief and should not mention reasons.

The resignation move is seen as an attempt by Mayawati to consolidate her core Dalit support base and re-establish herself as the community’s preeminent leader after facing a massive defeat in the UP Assembly poll earlier this year. There is also a speculation that she might tie up with Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD to augment her falling political fortunes.

The BSP could win only 18 seats while the BJP came to power by winning more than 300 of the 403 seats in the Assembly poll. The BJP had termed her resignation as a “drama” and pointed out that her tenure in the House was anyway coming to an end early next year.