Mayawati
Mayawati | |
|---|---|
Mayawati in 2016 | |
| 2nd President of the Bahujan Samaj Party | |
| Assumed office 18 September 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Kanshi Ram |
| 18th Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh | |
| In office 13 May 2007 – 15 March 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Mulayam Singh Yadav |
| Succeeded by | Akhilesh Yadav |
| In office 3 May 2002 – 29 August 2003 | |
| Preceded by | President's rule |
| Succeeded by | Mulayam Singh Yadav |
| In office 21 April 1997 – 21 September 1997 | |
| Preceded by | President's rule |
| Succeeded by | Kalyan Singh |
| In office 3 June 1995 – 18 October 1995 | |
| Preceded by | Mulayam Singh Yadav |
| Succeeded by | President's rule |
| Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha | |
| In office 3 April 2012 – 20 July 2017 | |
| Constituency | Uttar Pradesh |
| In office 5 July 2004 – 5 July 2007 | |
| Constituency | Uttar Pradesh |
| In office 3 April 1994 – 25 October 1996 | |
| Constituency | Uttar Pradesh |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| In office 2004–2004 | |
| Preceded by | Tribhuvan Dutt |
| Succeeded by | Shankhlal Majhi |
| Constituency | Akbarpur (SC) |
| In office 1998–2002 | |
| Preceded by | Ghanshyam Kharwar |
| Succeeded by | Tribhuvan Dutt |
| Constituency | Akbarpur (SC) |
| In office 1989–1991 | |
| Preceded by | Meira Kumar |
| Succeeded by | Mangal Ram Premi |
| Constituency | Bijnor |
| Member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council | |
| In office 28 June 2007 – 12 April 2012 | |
| Constituency | elected by Legislative Assembly members |
| Member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 2002–2003 | |
| Preceded by | Jagpal |
| Succeeded by | Vimla Rakesh |
| Constituency | Harora |
| In office 2002–2002 | |
| Preceded by | Bheem Prasad |
| Succeeded by | Jai Ram Vimal |
| Constituency | Jahangirganj |
| In office 1996–1998 | |
| Preceded by | Mohar Singh Rathore |
| Succeeded by | Jagpal |
| Constituency | Harora |
| In office 1996–1997 | |
| Preceded by | Yogender Kumar Sagar |
| Succeeded by | Bhola Shanker Morya |
| Constituency | Bilsi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kumari Mayawati Das 15 January 1956 New Delhi, India |
| Political party | Bahujan Samaj Party |
| Residence(s) | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | |
Kumari Mayawati (born Kumari Mayawati Das; 15 January 1956) is an Indian politician who served as the 18th Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh from 1995 to 1995, 1997 to 1997, 2002 to 2003 and from 2007 to 2012. She is the national president of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which focuses on a platform of social change for Bahujans, more commonly known as Other Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as well as religious minorities since 2003.
Mayawati had also served as a Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha from 2012 to 2017 from Uttar Pradesh. Mayawati's rise from humble beginnings has been called a "miracle of democracy" by P. V. Narasimha Rao, former prime minister of India. In 1993, Kanshi Ram formed a coalition with the Samajwadi Party and Mayawati became the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in 1995. She was the first female Scheduled Caste chief minister in India. In 1997 and in 2002 she was chief minister with outside support from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the second time only for a year up to 26 August 2003 due to BJP withdrawing support.
Mayawati's tenure has attracted praise and criticism. Millions of Dalits across India popularly view her as an icon, and refer to her as Behen-ji (elder sister). She has been praised for her fundraising efforts on behalf of her party and her birthdays have been widely celebrated by her supporters. On the contrary, the rise in her personal wealth and that of her party have been criticised as indicative of corruption.