Rahul Gandhi says Mayawati rejected alliance offer in 2024 polls; she hits back with 'casteist' charge

NEW DELHI: As Congress leader Rahul Gandhi questioned the political approach of Mayawati accusing her of not joining hands with the anti-BJP front during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief hit back at him while accusing the Congress of having a 'casteist mindset'.
Rahul Gandhi, who is on a visit to his Raebareli Lok Sabha constituency, on Thursday said that he was disappointed when Mayawati decided not to join INDIA bloc and fight the Lok Sabha elections together against the BJP.
"I wanted Behenji to fight alongside us against the BJP, but for some reason, she did not. That was deeply disappointing. If all three parties had united, the BJP would never have won," he said while interacting with Dalit students in Raebareli.
Withing hours after Rahul's remark, Mayawati took to X and slammed his party in a series of tweets.
"Wherever the Congress is strong or in power, it harbours hostility and casteist attitudes towards BSP and its followers. But in states like UP, where it is weak, it tries to mislead people by talking about an alliance with BSP. If this is not hypocrisy, then what is?" Mayawati wrote on X.

She also said that the past alliances with Congress had always been detrimental to her party.
"Whenever BSP allied with Congress or other casteist parties, our base vote got transferred to them. But this was never reciprocated. As a result, BSP always suffered losses," she said.
"They (Congress and BJP) have consistently opposed Dr BR Ambedkar, the BSP, its leadership, Dalit-Bahujan followers, and the reservation system," Mayawati wrote.

"Their policies have hindered the nation's constitutional goal of equality and welfare, which is deeply concerning," she said.
Interestingly, Rahul Gandhi during his interaction with Dalit students had started by praising Mayawati.
He spoke about BSP founder Kanshi Ram's role in Indian politics.
"I believe Kanshi Ram Ji laid the foundation, and Behenji (Mayawati) built upon it," he said before questioning her present political stance.
In 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Congress and Akhilesh Yadav;s Samajwadi party fought together as part of INDIA bloc in Uttar Pradesh against the BJP. Mayawati had decided to go solo in the elections.
The alliance won 44 seats making a major dent in the BJP’s stronghold where its tally fell from 62 in 2019.