BSP victory due to 'sarv samaj' support: Mayawati

LUCKNOW: Marking a significant shift in her approach towards the electorate, CM-to-be Mayawati on Friday credited 'sarv samaj' (all castes) rather than 'bahujan samaj' (majority castes) for her landslide victory in Uttar Pardesh.

"I am aware of the several vicious propaganda launched by some quarters to mislead the upper caste people against me," Mayawati, flanked by S C Mishra, a Brahmin and her new aide who joined the party last year and party leader Nasimmuddin Siddique, told reporters at the BSP headquarters.

"My party workers were livid at such wild allegations and said they should be given a befitting response. But I calmed then down and said we don't need to give them any explanation, leave it on the people," she said.

"And it gives me a great delight to inform you that people give a befitting reply. People of all castes, be it Brahmin, Kshatriya, Kyastha or numerous denominations of lower caste, voted us to power," Mayawati said, drawing a huge applause from the supporters thronging the press conference.

Turning to Mishra, a Rajya Sabha MP, she said he "played a pivotal role in amalgamating upper castes with the party.

"On my other side is Siddique, whose campaigning ensured the Muslims voted for BSP. I can, with surety, say that Muslim votes have come to us," she said.