Mayawati seeks Muslim support, targets rival parties for neglecting minorities

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president, Mayawati, appealed to the Muslim community on Wednesday (October 29, 2025) to unite behind her party and abandon the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress in order to defeat the divisive politics of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

She was launching an extensive outreach to strengthen Dalit–Muslim unity through the formation of Muslim Bhaichara (brotherhood, solidarity) committees across the state. Addressing a special meeting of the newly formed committee in Lucknow, Ms. Mayawati outlined her strategy to consolidate the Bahujan base: Dalit, Muslims, other backwards, and marginalised communities, under one umbrella.

“Since the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha polls and several previous contests, it has become clear that although Muslims have provided full comprehensive support — emotionally, physically, and financially — the SP and Congress have not succeeded in countering the BJP.

Conversely, the BSP has been able to overcome the BJP even with minimal Muslim backing, and in 2007, it established a majority government in the state, I urge the Muslim community to extend direct support to us and strengthen the Bahujan and marginalised cause” said the BSP president.

The former chief minister accused both the SP and Congress of historically engaging in politics that was “anti-Dalit, anti-backward, and anti-Muslim,” adding that their “incorrect policies and actions” have contributed to the empowerment of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh.

BSP works for the marginalised

Ms. Mayawati also highlighted measures the BSP government took from 2007-2012 for the Muslim community, including providing security and a rules-based system. “The BJP, the SP, and the Congress are engaged in politics for personal gain, while the BSP works only for the welfare and happiness of all sections of society. It is only the BSP, which works for the downtrodden and marginalised,” said Ms. Mayawati, adding the BSP has dedicated itself to securing justice for those who are oppressed.

“The BSP government liberated Uttar Pradesh from riots, exploitation, injustice, and fear, in stark contrast to the empty promises made by other parties,” she stated.

The BSP meeting was attended by office-bearers of the Muslim Samaj Bhaichara Sangathan and other state-level office bearers of the party.