by Kulsum Talha Sat May 12, [2007] 10:40 PM ET
India's most powerful low-caste politician was due to be sworn in on Sunday as leader of the country's most populous state after forging a "rainbow coalition" to sweep to victory.
Former school teacher Mayawati Kumari's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) captured 206 constituencies, giving her a narrow majority in the 403-seat Uttar Pradesh state assembly, the election commission declared on Saturday.
The results, following marathon month-long polls staggered over seven rounds, cleared the way for the fiery leader to take office as state chief minister for the fourth time.
"People of all castes have brought us to power," Mayawati, 51, told a news conference following her victory, as she thanked the upper castes and Muslims for spurning their traditional preferences to vote for her.
The poll results showed that Mayawati's BSP had cut significantly into the traditional support base of India's main opposition Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP's seat tally declined from 88 to 50.
The Congress, which rules at the national level, won 22 seats against the 25 it held previously, despite an aggressive campaign by the country's most famous political dynasty, the Gandhis.
Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul, seen as the family's political heir, along with her daughter Priyanka, all campaigned energetically in the state, which the party dominated until 1989.
"Both the parties need to do some serious introspection with the national elections due in 2009," said political analyst Mahesh Rangarajan.
"Mayawati has stolen the ground from under the BJP's feet by stitching up a formidable alliance of people from all castes and communities," he said, referring to a shift of upper-caste votes from the BJP to BSP.
The charismatic leader was born into a "Chamar" or leatherworkers' family -- at the bottom of India's rigid caste hierarchy -- on the outskirts of New Delhi.
She first became chief minister of the sprawling state in 1995 and was India's first woman Dalit or "untouchable" chief minister.
Although her first term lasted less than six months, "behenji" or "sister" as she is respectfully called, became an instant icon for millions of India's oppressed and marginalised.
And Mayawati has maintained her popularity despite numerous allegations of corruption -- she dismissed them as an upper-caste conspiracy -- and her unabashed display of wealth.
Two years ago she described herself as a "living goddess" and said that she had never married in order to "to improve the lot" of Dalits.
Her latest victory surprised her rivals and exit polls, which had predicted a hung assembly.
Analysts said Mayawati's campaign had been better than expected as she had aimed at attracting votes from upper-caste Brahmins as well as Muslims, forming a "rainbow coalition" in the lawless, poverty-ridden state.
"The people of the state have also proved they believe in democracy and I promise we will unshackle the millions from a regime of fear, injustice and will offer them full democratic rights," she said.
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