As polls close in, BSP plans low-key birthday for Mayawati

LUCKNOW: Trademark cake weighing as much as her age and gigantic garlands would not be part of Bahujan Samaj Party ( BSP) chief Mayawati's 60th birthday celebrations on Friday.

The celebrations would remain low-key as part of Mayawati's efforts to maintain a low profile before the Uttar Pradesh polls next year.
Mayawati, who had announced she would not get memorials and parks constructed if she returns to power in November, is expected to fly to Delhi from Lucknow to celebrate the occasion with her family there.

She is expected to release her book titled 'A travelogue of my struggle-ridden life and BSP movement' and a calendar.

BSP workers would celebrate the occasion as ' Jankalyankari Diwas' and distribute fruits and blankets among poor.

In Lucknow, the party would hold a function in the old city area with significant Muslim population.

The BSP has asked its legislators and prospective candidates for the election to be present at programmes scheduled at district headquarters for an informal launch of the poll campaign.

BSP state president Ram Achal Rajbhar said there is great enthusiasm among party cadres and supporters.

"Behenji's birthday will be celebrated in all districts. Not only MLAs even prospective candidates besides zonal and districts coordinators have been asked to attend the functions," he said.

A BSP functionary said the occasion would be used to introduce prospective candidates to the voters.

Sources said the district level functions would provide the party platform to spell out its priorities.