This birthday on,Maya will take to giving for kalyan

But after a PWD engineer,M K Gupta,was killed in Auraiya for allegedly failing to meet local BSP MLA’s demand for contributing to the drive,there was a huge uproar in Uttar Pradesh. Apart from BSP MLA Shekhar Tiwari,other accused in the murder included his wife Vibha,who was then president of the local civic body,and Yogrendra Dohrem,then district BSP president.

On Tuesday,Mayawati held a meeting with her party’s top functionaries,including coordinators from various states and zonal coordinators of UP,and told them about her decision to celebrate her 54th birthday as Jan Kalyankari Diwas.

Mayawati also tried to distance herself from the practice of fund collection on her birthday,saying that it was started during the days of BSP founder Kanshi Ram. She also accused the Opposition for creating a controversy and politicising her Arthik Sahyog Diwas.

“She reminded us about the growth of BSP as a strong political force. She directed us to ensure all help to the poor and needy on the occasion of her birthday,” said a BSP leader.

Mayawati also asked her party functionaries to launch a membership drive from next month in which the applicants have to pay Rs 40 each.

Sources in the party,however,said that the membership drive will not be as “open” as perceived. “The membership is only for party functionaries but we will later get detailed directions,” said one of the coordinators.