Her detractors call it wasteful expenditure but for Mayawati the gigantic monuments and memorials built are symbols of ‘Dalit pride’.

Rows of sandstone elephants, statues of Dalit icons including her own; Mayawati surely knows the emotive value of the endeavour.

Although the Election Commission has covered up her parks and statues and she may have been constantly under attack by the opposition and media, but there has been no election in Uttar Pradesh, in recent times, without the commanding presence of the elephants and that stands true for this time as well.

What can be called a miracle, Uttar Pradesh joined the club of 7% growth rate. No doubt this is an issue which Mayawati will surely raise in the state elections.

This is even more pertinent considering that the state has long been regarded as feudal and caste-driven where fast growth was not a possibility.

Notwithstanding what her critics might say, the symbols of so called Dalit pride might just work in the favour of the BSP supremo. That section of the population who may have felt marginalised by the ruling strata of the society may take this to be a step towards their empowerment.