Taking the cue from other leaders, including Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati is planning a major birthday bash for herself.
The Bahujan Samaj Party leader turns 47 on January 15, and her coterie can be expected to put up a show that other politicians would envy.
Officials of culture, information, urban development and public works departments have been asked to pool in their respective resources to make a success of the event.
Officials close to the chief minister are understood to have already put together a team of luminaries from the cultural world who are busy giving shape to a series of events for the day that Mayawati wants to be described as the day of dalit awakening.
Interestingly, the events would not be confined to Lucknow alone. A massive show is being planned in Delhi as well at a venue no less than the Talkatora stadium.
While the day would commence with a celebration at the La Martiniere College grounds across the chief minister's official residence, the evening would be marked by a cultural extravaganza in Delhi.
The highlight of the evening's show would be a dance-drama depicting scenes from Mayawati's life, including her achievements as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.
Artistes from UP and neighbouring states like Rajasthan and Haryana are also expected to put up special shows. Other highlights are an exhibition and an audio-visual presentation of Mayawati's speeches.
The evening's events would be followed by dinner, which the who's who of the National Democratic Alliance is expected to attend.
Barring President A P J Abdul Kalam and Leader of the Opposition Sonia Gandhi, every VIP is expected to figure in the guest list.
Ironically, even as Mayawati is pulling all stops to highlight the rise of a dalit woman, no dalit, unless he/she is a VIP, would be able to participate in the celebrations.
Entry to the Lucknow and Delhi bashes would be strictly by invitation -- thanks to Mayawati's concern about her personal security. This paranoia has already turned her into the 'most inaccessible' chief minister, after perhaps her Tamil Nadu counterpart Jayalalithaa.
