Mayawati was born on 15th January, 1956 at Shrimati Sucheta Kriplani Hospital, New Delhi. Her father Prabhu Das was a post office employee at Badalpur, Gautama Buddha Nagar. She belonged to low income group and scheduled cast family. Her family was large and she had to face the gender bias. As, the boys were sent to private schools for better education, the girls were sent to low performing Government run schools.

Though, she was a good student and had completed her graduation in different streams. She had completed her B.A. from Kalindi Women’s College and LLB from Campus Law Centre, under Delhi University. She had also done her B.Ed from VMLG, Ghaziabad.

She is presently the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. She is also the president of Bahujan Samaj Party which was started by late Kanshi Ram in 1984. Mayawati was the key member of the party from the beginning. Mayawati represented BSP in elections for Kairana LokSabha seat, in 1984. In 1985, she was fielded for the Bijnor seat and then in 1987 she contested from the Haridwar constituency. It was in the year 1989 when she won the election with a huge margin, from Bijnor constituency as a Member of Parliament. Though, BSP didn’t manage to win but this started as a new chapter in the political life of Mayawati. The party was formed to woo the dalit class of the state. But after few years when Mayawati and Kanshi Ram observed that the dalits are spread all over the state in varying densities, they decided to widen their vote bank by inculcating other sections of the society. In the year 2002 Kanshi ram nominated Mayawati as her successor.

Mayawati has served as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh four times. First time, in 1995 she became the Chief Minister for a shorter duration of time. Then, in 1997 she was again sworn in as the Chief Minister. In 2002-2003 she gained the chair with the help of BJP. On 13th May 2007 she was sworn in as the Chief Minister of the state for fourth time. She won these elections on her own. And this is seen as one of the greatest victories that BSP has ever recorded. Her previous governments were made in coalition with various political parties. But in 2007, her party managed to come in power solely and defied all the poll predictions.

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Mayawati had always remained a person of controversies. But this seems to little affect her flamboyant behaviour and her liking for precious stones and other commodities. Her recent birthdays are celebrated by the party workers in a loud manner. The day is called as ‘jan kalyankari diwas’ which means people’s welfare day. Several announcements are made and schemes are launched to mark the celebration.

Mayawati’s residence was raided by CBI in March, 2003 in relation to Taj corridor case. However, in 2007 Governor T.V.Rajeshwar refused to grant sanction to prosecute Mayawati, saying that the evidences produced were not enough. This was challenged by CBI in Supreme Court. But the case was dismissed over there also.

During her tenure as CM, she had erected several statues of dalit leaders and her own also. This has been strongly condemned by opposition parties and a large section of society. But Mayawati claims it to be compulsory citing reason that no one in the past has ever done anything for the repressed class and their representing icons. Wiki leak cables had also revealed that American civil servants don’t appreciate her governance.