“No party can match the record of the BSP in promoting youths at all levels — be it in the organisation or the government,” Mayawati said on Friday.

Claiming the BSP was committed to fight criminalisation of politics, Mayawati said: “The BSP provides opportunities to all to reform themselves. If they fail to come up to the expectations of the party, they are immediately shown the door. The party will never compromise with its image by inducting tainted people for political ends.”

She added there were several instances when BSP leaders have been shown the door or sent to the jail after found involved in criminal acts.

The Opposition, however, has a different story to narrate. The Samajwadi Party (SP) has been consistently accusing the BSP of having as many as 22 ministers in the government, who have a shady past and face criminal charges. The party plans to soon publish a dossier on the tainted MLAs and ministers of the BSP.

“The Bahujan Samaj Party has become the rehabilitation centre for criminals, where dreaded criminals are welcome,” said D Tripathi, spoke-sman of the state Congress.

Hridya Narayan Dikshit, vice-president of the state BJP, said: “The BSP is courting those very elements whom Mayawati had dubbed as criminals when they were with the SP.”

There have been reports that BSP wants to field the Ansari brothers — Afzal Ansari and Mukhtar Ansari — from Ghazipur and Varanasi Lok Sabha seats respectively. Both are accused in the murder of BJP legislator Krishnanand Rai.

The BSP has also admitted other politicians with a criminal record, like Badayun legislator D P Yadav and Arun Shankar Shukla alias Anna.

Two ministers, Jamuna Prasad Nishad and Anandsen Yadav, had to quit following murder charges. Both are presently in jail.