Mayawati receives Ram Temple inauguration invite, undecided on attendance

• Mayawati receives an invitation for the Ram Temple inauguration but is undecided on attending due to party commitments
• BSP chief reaffirms the party's commitment to secularism and announces an independent contest in the 2024 national polls
• Mayawati expresses confidence in the BSP's potential impact on election outcomes if conducted fairly

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati announced on her 68th birthday that she has received an invitation for the Ram Temple inauguration in Ayodhya on January 22. However, Mayawati has not yet decided whether she will attend the ceremony, citing her busy schedule with party work.

Emphasizing the BSP's commitment to secularism and respect for all religions, Mayawati reiterated that the party would contest the 2024 national polls independently, distancing itself from "communal, capitalist, casteist forces." She highlighted the BSP's determination to secure fair results in elections, expressing confidence that the party's votes would be crucial if the polls are conducted freely.

 Mayawati's remarks come against the backdrop of political developments, with reports suggesting the Congress's interest in including the BSP in the Opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc. The BSP, facing a decline in its support base, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, contested the 2019 national polls in alliance with the Samajwadi Party (SP) but later ended the alliance, blaming the SP for the electoral setback.

Mayawati criticized the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), attributing the BSP's challenges to the voting technology. Despite these challenges, she affirmed the BSP's determination to contest elections independently, hoping that the alleged irregularities in the electoral process would be addressed.