M A I L B A G

Maya should focus on governance

H K. Dua’s article “Politics of inclusion: Maya’s victory has lessons for others” (May 15) is worth pondering by all the political parties as it reflects the people’s thinking today. He has touched the crux when he observes that “a plural society and polity call for an inclusive approach where the door is thrown open and opportunities provided to every community”.

This is the major point on which Mayawati won and others lost in Uttar Pradesh elections. No wonder, most Indians are happy at her resounding victory. The results have some important lessons for all of us.

One, the Indian voter is smart and cannot be taken for granted. Two, even Amitabh Bachchan is no Big B if he tries to mislead the common man. Three, people want good governance and not Goonda Raj.

Four, one-party government is very much possible if the leader is promising. Five, you cannot run the country or even a state just on the basis of Hindutva or similar constrained thinking. And finally, the Election Commission India has again done its job well.

Mayawati has got an excellent opportunity to make history. Here is a chance to provide good governance and ensure all round development of UP, usher in social change by truly empowering the Dalits through education and job placements, and take all castes and religions along as a Dalit leader.

Mayawati should guard against vendetta and focus on an effective and clean government, putting the corrupt and criminals in the background.

Col R.D. SINGH, Commandant,213 Transit Camp, Jammu

II

The editorial, “Maya wave” (May 12) analyzed all aspects of UP polls. UP’s electoral history will never be the same again where Mayawati’s magic has not only pulled down the Mulayam government but humiliated the BJP and deflated Rajiv Gandhi’s highly visible campaign.

Politics is the art of reinvention, opportunism and double standards with sole focus on power which has influenced Mayawati’s evolution from Dalit Queen to Brahmin Messiah and Bahujan Samaj to Sarvjan Samaj. Feeling the pulse of the people, Mayawati’s slogan has changed from Tilak, tarazu aur talwar /inko maaro joote chaar to Hathi nahin, Ganesh hai/ Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh hai and Pandit shankh bajayega, hathi aage badhta jayega reaffirming her political shrewdness of a cold and clinical decision maker.

Mayawati has come a long way from being known as Dalit ki beti to Daulat ki beti. As the saboteur of the existing social order in politics, Mayawati will play a decisive national role.

Dr VITULL K. GUPTA,Bathinda

III

Through her social engineering, Mayawati has done wonders by winning the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Let us hope that the BSP will do its best to ameliorate the lot of the deprived and the marginalised sections of society.

I fully agree with Mr Dua that Mayawati’s victory is a tribute to Indian democracy where a Dalit has reached the top with the help of masses and the upper castes. Credit goes to her for bringing the antagonistic castes nearer to each other.

The success of Mayawati’s rule depends on the BSP’s strength to provide a clean and humane administration. She must save her party from criminals and rogues. She should do her best to strengthen the democratic institutions so that the state is pulled out of the grip of communal, criminal and casteist elements forever.

SUDESH KUMAR SHARMA, Kapurthala

IV

The article serves as a mirror to all politicians to survive and sustain in democratic India for all times to come. The Eleventh Plan’s inclusive growth model is the true mantra for sustainable development. Mayawati possesses the potential to provide governance of desirable standards of inclusive growth as an Ambedkarite.

She must adopt the canons of public expenditure advocated by Ambedkar, wisdom as provided by the professionals in the field, coupled with well considered and honest judgement and economy in execution.

The allocation of public expenditure among competing demands and the manner of utilisation fall within the domain of Ambedkar’s canons. To face the formidable problems and challenges, Mayawati should see whether particular items of public spending are really necessary or not.

Prof M .M. GOEL, Kurukshetra

V

Mayawati’s victory marks the end of caste-based politics. For the first time in her political career, she applied her political wit and gave tickets to many potential political bigwigs from non-Dalit castes and succeeded in raising the BSP’s image form a Dalit party to a visionary one. Many Thakurs, Yadavs, Brahmins have been included in her ministry.

However, Mayawati will take political revenge against her predecessor Malayam Singh Yadav. Now, she will play a decisive role in the presidential elections. Let us see how long her blue elephant goes this time.

SUKHWINDER SINGH, Ludhiana