BJP hits back at Mayawati, says she is 'panic-stricken' and losing her presence in UP

Taking on Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati after she accused Union Minister Ramdas Athawale of "dividing Dalit votes", the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday said the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister, who has lost her presence in the politically crucial state, is now left with no issues to raise before the people.

"Mayawati is slowly losing her presence in Uttar Pradesh. She doesn't have any issues left. Several leaders of her party are now quitting the BSP. She is in a state of panic," BJP state president Keshav Prasad Maurya said.

A day after Athawale questioned Mayawati for not embracing Buddhism despite claiming to be the follower of Dr BR Ambedkar, the BSP supremo hit back at the Union Minister saying, "The BJP and PM Modi have recently inducted some ministers with a slave mentality into the Cabinet. Republican Party of India's (RPI) Ramdas Athawale is one of them."

Athawale was recently inducted into Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet and given charge of the Ministry of Social Justice.