Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati has her own inimitable ways to buy loyalty of her supporters -- literally.
Addressing a meet of Brahmins at her party office in Lucknow on Saturday, she blatantly put a price tag -- to ensure loyalty.
"Each of the Brahmin societies set up in the 403 assembly constituencies of the state must shell out Rs 25,000 as gift towards my birthday, that is traditionally celebrated as fund-raising day for the party," Mayawati told the large gathering.
"And that will prove your loyalty towards the party," she went on to add.
That it would be a straight quid pro quo was also clearly spelt out by her. "Let me assure you that I do not believe in just using you as a vote bank. When I come to power I will see to it that you get an appropriate share in governance," she made it loud and clear.
Echoing her own explanation for her open demand for gifts on her own birthday (January 15) every year, she said, "Unlike other political parties, after all ours is not a party that is funded by affluent industrialists or business houses. So we have to depend on contributions made by our own supporters."
Without mincing words, she said, "I am not asking you to give me gold, silver or diamonds. Just give us some cash so that we can run the party and take it ahead."
As if giving an explanation, she said, "After all when all other communities under the BSP umbrella voluntarily give donations to the party fund, why should Brahmins lag behind."
Exuding confidence that she would soon return to power, she went on to describe herself as Lord Krishna. "Like Lord Krishna, I am going to crush all the evil perpetuated by Mulayam Singh Yadav who symbolises Kans (the evil maternal uncle of Lord Krishna)", she asserted.
