As the matter quickly went viral on social media, BSP President Mayawati came forward to strongly refute the allegations, terming the entire episode a conspiracy hatched by the opposition and a section of the media.

Bhaskar Investigation: Key Revelations of the Sting Operation

The undercover reporter posed as a political aspirant seeking a ticket from the BKT (Bakshi Ka Talab) assembly constituency in Lucknow. During the negotiations with senior BSP leaders, the following details emerged:

• The ‘Meeting Fee’: BSP’s Lucknow District President Shailendra Gautam and UP State President Vishwanath Pal explicitly stated that an aspirant must bring ₹5 lakh in cash to meet ‘Behenji’ (Mayawati) as a candidate. This money is to be placed directly on her table in a blank envelope, with no receipts or accounts maintained for it.
• Ticket Rate: A sum of ₹3.35 crore was demanded for the BKT seat. The leaders revealed that the rate varies depending on the constituency.
• Mode of Transaction: The entire amount must be paid in cash. It can be deposited as a lump sum or in installments (e.g., ₹20 lakh, ₹50 lakh) within a timeframe of one to one-and-a-half months.
• Lure of a Ministerial Berth: State President Vishwanath Pal assured the undercover reporter a “100% guarantee” of becoming a minister if the party formed the government.
• Fee for a General Meeting: If someone does not want a ticket but simply wishes to meet Mayawati for her “blessings,” a separate fee of ₹2 lakh is allegedly charged.

Leaders Caught on Camera (As per the Report)

1. Shailendra Gautam (Lucknow District President): He explained the entire ticket purchasing process, stating that once the money is deposited, the candidate’s name is announced amid a crowd of 10,000 to 15,000 people. He made it clear that the party prioritizes a candidate’s financial capacity to deposit the funds over their political background.

2. Vishwanath Pal (UP State President): The State President finalized the deal in his private office. He pressured the reporter to arrange the cash quickly (within a month or so) as the elections are approaching. He even offered to make a phone call right then and there to schedule an immediate meeting with Mayawati.

Mayawati’s Counterattack: “It is Part of Candidate Screening”

Following the viral spread of the sting operation, BSP Supremo Mayawati took to social media (X/Twitter) to present her side, dismissing the report as entirely misleading. The key points of her statement are:

“The BSP is an honest, Ambedkarite party that runs on the physical, mental, and financial support of its own people, not on the backing of big capitalists or billionaires.”

• Opposition is Rattled: She stated that as elections approach, capitalist and casteist forces resort to various gimmicks to defame the BSP and its “Iron Lady” leadership.
• Tough Questions Misconstrued: Mayawati clarified that the State President (Vishwanath Pal) and other office-bearers were conducting solid screening of ticket seekers. To gauge a candidate’s social, political, and financial standing, as well as their loyalty and durability, the leaders ask tough, probing questions—much like a cross-examination in a courtroom. She argued that interpreting this grilling as “selling tickets” at face value is utterly wrong.
• Appeal to Workers: She urged her party members not to fall prey to these sponsored rumors and to remain fully dedicated to their preparations for Mission 2027 (the UP Assembly Elections).

BSP’s Current Political Equation

Founded on April 14, 1984, by Kanshi Ram, the BSP was once at the pinnacle of power in Uttar Pradesh, but its political graph has seen a decline in recent years.

• 2022 UP Assembly Elections: The party secured a 12.9% vote share but managed to win only 1 seat.
• Current Strategy: According to the report, anticipating early assembly elections, the party is strategizing to field Brahmin candidates on 40 to 50 seats.

Conclusion: This undercover investigation has reignited the debate over the commercialization of political tickets in UP. While the report visually depicts leaders demanding crores on camera, Mayawati is actively engaged in damage control, framing the captured conversations as merely a rigorous method to assess a candidate’s true capabilities.

Key Highlights of this News:

• Mission 2027: BSP Chief Mayawati focuses on forming a full majority government, directing cadres to strengthen the grassroots base among OBC voters.
• Attack on Opposition: Accused rival parties of historically opposing the Mandal Commission’s 27% reservation and deliberately rendering it ineffective.
• BSP’s Legacy: Emphasized that the true welfare and rights of Dalits and OBCs were solely secure under the ‘Iron Lady’ government of the BSP.
• The ‘Master Key’ Strategy: Urged the marginalized communities to stop lamenting their struggles and snatch the “master key of power” to become the ruling class.

Calling Out the Opposition’s “Casteist Mindset”

During the high-level meeting, Mayawati launched a scathing attack on rival political factions and the current administrations. She alleged that while opposition parties might elevate a single OBC face for selfish electoral gains, their overall mindset toward the socio-economic development of backward classes remains narrow and casteist. She reminded the public that these very parties fiercely opposed the implementation of the Mandal Commission report—which granted a 27 percent quota in government jobs and education—and are currently trying to neutralize this reservation system from the inside.

Reminding Voters of BSP’s Historic Reforms

Highlighting her party’s track record, the BSP supremo stated that her previous government not only enforced the Mandal Commission recommendations but also restored the pride of historically marginalized communities. By honoring great social reformers like Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj, and Sri Narayana Guru, the BSP laid a strong foundation for social transformation and economic liberation. Furthermore, she pointed out that it was the BSP government that, for the first time in the country, established separate ministries and commissions dedicated to the upliftment of Dalits and backward classes.

‘Current Governments Operating Only on Paper’

Criticizing the current administrative machinery, Mayawati remarked that genuine public welfare schemes are nowadays restricted merely to paperwork. She questioned the intent and policies of the governments, stating that this flawed approach is the primary reason the socio-economic condition of the OBC community is failing to improve.

Concluding with a powerful and strategic message, Mayawati appealed to the exploited classes that merely crying over their ongoing plight will not yield any results. The only permanent solution, she stated, is to unite under the BSP umbrella, take control of the “master key to power,” and transition from the exploited to the ruling class.