NEW DELHI, 16 January 2008 — Having stormed into power eight months ago, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati made a grand show yesterday of celebrations marking her 52nd birthday. Amid great fanfare, the celebrations began with her cutting a 52-kg cake at her official residence in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. “Make Jan. 15 a big show at the state level,” Mayawati told workers of her Bahujan Samaj Party at a lavish birthday party.

Wearing pearls and a pink shalwar-kameez, Mayawati defended the extravaganza dotting Lucknow saying that no government money was used. The cake was paid for by her party aide Satish Chandra Mishra. “The hoardings and decorated gateways have been paid for from the hard-earned money of party workers. Each penny spent has come from party members,” she said.

Decorations at Mayawati’s official residence were done in pink, with the cake, house, Mayawati’s dress and even the road leading to the house were bedecked with imported orchids. Blue, BSP’s official color, stood out in decorations across the state, with hoardings showering greetings on the chief minister.

On the occasion, Mayawati announced several schemes including a Ganga Expressway project linking Noida with Ballia, a plan covering state’s nine drought-affected districts, health insurance scheme for people living below the poverty line and a huge thermal power project. Criticizing those opposing the expressway project, Mayawati lashed out at the federal government for allegedly ignoring the claims of Uttar Pradesh in allotment of federal funds. She blamed the state’s previous governments and Delhi for their “apathy” toward the drought-affected Bundelkhand region.

With the day observed as “Arthik Sahyog Diwas” (financial help day), legislators contributed to the “party fund,” the “targets” for which were fixed in advance. Mayawati reportedly fixed 800 million rupees for Uttar Pradesh alone.

Political observers view Mayawati’s success in the state as part of her ambition to rule India. When questioned about this, she said: “During the UP Assembly elections, not once did I say that I wanted to become the chief minister. I left it to the people to decide. In the same way, my move to Delhi will depend on the preparedness of the party workers at the national level. If they urge me to go to the center, I will fulfill their ambitions.”

In Delhi too, roads around Mayawati’s residence were decorated with banners and posters showering her with greetings. The celebrations in Delhi were marked by the release of the third volume of her book “Mere Sangarshmai Jeevan Evam BSP Movement Ka Safarnama Part-3,” (My Struggle in Life and the BSP Movement’s Story, Part 3).

Ahead of Mayawati’s birthday, Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party said that the BSP government should ensure that ceremonies were not held at the cost of the public exchequer. “Although celebrations of a party leader’s birthday is very much a private affair, one should ensure that government expense is not incurred,” BJP spokesman Prakash Javedakar said. In the same tone, Congress frowned upon the “gift culture” in the BSP.

Mayawati’s political rival, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav alleged that he and his party leaders had been kept under house arrest in Lucknow. “A large posse of police has been deployed at my residence and the party office to prevent any protest from party workers,” he said.

Several Samajwadi Party workers were detained for collecting “alms” to be sent to Mayawati.