The word 'Mass Leader" is one of the most misused term in political writing today. It comes from assumption and nothing else. How else do you describe Mayawati a mass leader? What is her claim to fame? She is heading a party which was NOT formed by her, the last UP assembly election is the first election that she has won decisively and she has won absolutely nothing significant other than that. Just one assembly win and you brand her a mass leader?? In that case, why are people like Naveen Patnaik (2 consecutive terms) or Chandrababu Naidu (2 terms before last loss) not called mass leaders as well by the same media? To me, a mass leader is the one who is heard and respected all over and is has a pan-Indian appeal. In today's polity, the only names i can think of is Vajpayee, L.K. Advani and Soniya Gandhi.
Then comes leaders with mass charishma and i think people like Balasaheb Thackeray, Narendra Modi or Lalu Yadav fit the bill here...these are the people who can hold the audience with their oratorial skills. I dont think Mayawati possesses any great oratorial skill either.
Next, you have regional satraps and this is where Mayawati fits, along with likes of Mulayam, Karunanidhi, Jayalalita etc. She has hired a good PR firm which is trying to project her this larger-than-life image.
Lastly, she is being touted as a leader of a front. Well, please beware her. She has partnered and parted with everyone possible in UP - from Mulayam to BJP to anyone and then tried to br
