Mayawati to redraw her poll strategy

Mayawati has directed her cadre to carry on with their campaign, away from media attention, besides speeding up preparations for her rallies, expected to start from Meerut and Aligarh from February 1. 

Party sources said Mayawati is likely to address more than a dozen rallies in west UP during the first two phases of the elections. With Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav replacing his father Mulayam on the Samajwadi Party throne as its national president and an SP-Congress alliance in the offing, the political spotlight is back on BSP Chief Mayawati for whom the UP Assembly elections would determine her very political existence. 

On Wednesday, the BSP supremo called up a group of close party ranks from west UP to strategise her campaign in the region where she has fielded Muslim candidates in significant numbers. The sources here said the BSP supremo not only ascertained the party’s preparation, she has also sought feedback on the impact of unprecedented development in the SP camp in the region, especially on the Muslim electorate.