Chief Minister Mayawati has directed her party leaders that there will be no fund collection on her birthday in future. This announcement was made by her at the party’s national convention held in Lucknow on Thursday.

Mayawati was elected as the BSP’s national president for the third consecutive term after the meeting of the party’s national executive. “Mayawati has directed the representatives from all over the country that the economic cooperation being given on her birthday was being abolished from the next year,” said a press release issued by the party.

The BSP has faced criticism from the opposition for the celebration of Mayawati’s birthday on January 15 as Arthik Sahyog Diwas. Her birthday celebration had hit the headlines last year after the murder of PWD engineer M K Gupta in December 2008. It was alleged that Auriaya’s BSP MLA Shekhar Tewari had demanded money from Gupta for Maya’s birthday.