Maya sets off early election buzz

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UP chief minister Mayawati seems to have slipped into poll mode, a year and a half before elections in Uttar Pradesh are due.
Highly-placed sources claim that Uttar Pradesh could be heading towards an early election since the chief minister has already put the government and the party into a fast forward mode.

Ms Mayawati, on Wednesday, told her legislators to return to their constituencies and start preparing for elections.
Though she made it a point to say that elections would be held on schedule, she asked the MLAs to start connecting with voters at the grassroots level and publicise the achievements of her government and dispel doubts created in the minds of the voters by Opposition parties.
At a meeting of senior officers, Ms Mayawati made it clear that improvement in development and law and order level must also be perceived by the public. She asked officers to take steps to improve public perception on both the issues.
“The manner in which the chief minister spoke made it seem as if elections were round the corner. She also informed that relatives would not be given tickets in the assembly elections. We have been told to increase preparedness for elections,” said a BSP legislator who attended the meeting.
What further adds to the speculations of a snap poll is the fact that the chief minister has been doling out sops to various sections of society, with special emphasis on dalits.
Increased grades for policemen, bonus for state employees, implementation of Sixth Pay Commission reports, housing scheme for the poor, a monthly pension for those not covered under BPL schemes, acceptance of farmers’ demands for Tappal Township and higher support price for cane growers are some of the sops that the state government has given out in recent weeks.
According to sources, the chief minister feels that an early election would jeopardise Opposition strategy and catch most of the opposition parties unaware.
“The Congress has not even begun preparing for elections. The Samajwadi Party is grappling with itself while the BJP is down in the dumps. In such a situation, the BSP will have a definite advantage if elections are announced because we are the only party to have decided on candidates and poll strategy,” said a senior party functionary.
Officers in the chief minister’s secretariat are also surprised by the sudden turn of events. “Suddenly, the chief minister has shifted focus and is taking keen interest in good governance. She is personally monitoring the developmental schemes and has put the entire state machinery on its toes,” admits a senior officer.
Interestingly, if Ms Mayawati does not call for early elections, this will be the first time that she will be completing her full tenure as chief minister of UP.