Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati on Sunday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging that he had associated himself with Other Backward Class (OBC) only for political gains. Her comments came in response to Prime Minister Modi’s accusation that the opposition thought of him as a lowly (neech) person.

Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, the BSP chief claimed that the Prime Minister “had always belonged to the upper caste.” She said, “PM Narendra Modi himself during his election campaigns, associated himself to a backward class. He tried to get votes by associating himself to OBCs. But everyone knows about his true caste. PM always belonged to upper caste. But during his tenure in Gujarat, he included his community in the OBC category for political gains. “

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister stated that unlike Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, Modi had not been “born into a backward class.” Hitting out at the PM, Mayawati said, “ThToday, at Kannauj, he (PM Modi) said Behenji and Akhilesh (Yadav) think of him as a neech (lowly)  person as he comes from a backward caste. Their (BJP's) Dalit-backward card is not working anymore.”

Notably, at a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Kannauj, PM Modi had alleged that that opposition leaders such as Mayawati, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, and the Congress were discussing his caste to attack him. He said, "This country didn't know my caste till my detractors abused me...I am thankful to Mayawatiji, Akhileshji, Congresspeople and the 'mahamilavatis' that they are discussing my caste...I believe that taking birth in a backward caste is an opportunity to serve the country."

He also urged the opposition leaders to not raise the issue of his caste as an election ploy. He said, “I tell you with folded hands, I want no part in this. The 130 crore people of this country are my family.” PM Modi also blamed Mayawati of joining hands with those who opposed Dalit ideologue and leader BR Ambedkar and accused her of betraying her ideology.

Meanwhile, Hardoi and Kannauj constituency in Uttar Pradesh go to polls in the fourth phase of the general election on Monday. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.