Lucknow’s political corridors are buzzing after Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati unleashed a scathing critique of the Uttar Pradesh government’s 2026-27 budget presented in the state assembly. Labeling it as more populist than people-centric, Mayawati warned that the grand announcements risk becoming mere paper promises if not implemented on time.
In a pointed post on X, the BSP chief dissected the budget’s shortcomings. She argued that while it dazzles with eye-catching declarations aimed at headlines, it falls short on genuine upliftment for all sections of society and balanced development across regions. ‘The budget appears more geared towards populism than real progress for the masses,’ she stated, urging authorities to ensure timely execution to avoid disillusionment.
Mayawati didn’t stop at criticism. She highlighted a persistent flaw: the absence of concrete data on last year’s budget implementation. ‘Providing verifiable ground-level outcomes would have lent credibility to the speech,’ she remarked, accusing it of being another headline-grabber that dashes hopes for ‘achhe din’ yet again. Uttar Pradesh’s residents, she emphasized, desperately need stable employment opportunities, with special attention to SC, ST, OBC reservations and clearing recruitment backlogs.
Drawing from BSP’s governance legacy, Mayawati called on the BJP administration to embrace the constitutional motto of ‘Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya’ with sincerity. A true budget, she asserted, should prioritize the poor and farmers, fostering life-changing improvements rather than favoring specific castes or regions.
Meanwhile, BSP’s organizational drive gained momentum with meetings of senior leaders from Rajasthan and two other states. These sessions reviewed progress on Delhi directives, focusing on strengthening grassroots presence and inspiring members to build a power base akin to Uttar Pradesh’s model. The goal: empower the Bahujan Samaj to fully realize constitutional rights, including reservations, earned through Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s tireless struggle—benefits first realized under BSP’s four UP governments.