By IANS,
Lucknow : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati sprang a surprise here Saturday by saying she had already made up her mind on a political successor – in case she died or was sent to jail.
Leaving everyone guessing as she spoke at a massive BSP rally at the Ramabai Ambedkar Maidan where party workers had gathered from all parts of the country, she said: “The successor I have chosen for myself is someone 18 to 20 years younger to me and hails from my own ‘chamar’ community.
“But let me make it absolutely clear that he is not anyone belonging to my family.
“I have penned down his name in a sealed packet left in the safe custody of two of my close confidantes.”
“These two people have been told to open the packet and disclose the name of this successor either in the event of my sudden death or if my political adversaries succeed in their vicious gameplan of sending me to jail on trumped-up charges,” she said.
No sooner was the rally over than party leaders were heard speculating about her successor in hushed tones. However, no specific name came out.