India, April 13 -- In her memoir, 'Mere Sangharshmay Jeevan Evam Bahujan Movement Ka Safarnaama', former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati calls the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) a symbol of the dignity of the Bahujan Samaj, or Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and religious minorities constituting over 75% of the population. Mayawati quotes intellectuals and says she has attained a standing in Indian politics that her rivals can criticise or condemn her, but can never ignore her.

Mayawati remains relevant, even as the BSP's support base has eroded significantly. The BSP won just one seat in the 403-member Uttar Pradesh assembly in 2022. The BSP has no seats in Parliament. But Mayawati remains the pre-eminent Da...