Opposition trying to malign BSP's reputation: Mayawati

Alleging that opposition parties have beefed up their campaign against her government in the wake of Uttar Pradesh assembly elections to be held in 2012, chief minister Mayawati today asked the state's legislators to counter this propaganda effectively.

"As only about one and a half years are left for the assembly polls in the state, opposition parties are involved in propaganda against my government to malign its image. You all should remain alert and counter it effectively," Mayawati said while addressing a meeting of party MLAs and MLCs at here residence.

Alleging that the Centre has been meting out step-motherly treatment to the state, she said the state's legislators should tell people that the state government has initiated a number of schemes for the welfare of dalits, women, minorities and other section of society.

"Despite our requests to the Centre to give special package for the development of eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bundelkhand, no heed has been paid to it. The demand to constitute three smaller states of Purvanchal, Bundelkhand and Paschimanchal was also not met," Mayawati alleged.

She asked the legislators to expand the party's base and to ensure that welfare schemes launched by the government reach the common man so that they get to know the reality of development works.