Mayawati is a Dalit, at the bottom of the caste system

Mayawati Kumari is an icon for millions of India's Dalits, or "untouchables" as they used to be known.

Normally called simply Mayawati, she was born into the low-caste Hindu Jatav, or Chamar, community.

Hoping to become a district magistrate, she studied law and worked as a teacher before embarking on her political career.

Her mentor, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President Kanshi Ram, was keen to pass on his political mantle to her.

He is believed to have told his protégé she was destined to become a queen who would control the fate of many district magistrates rather than be one of them.

The dream became a reality in 1995, when she took over as the first low-caste, or Dalit, chief minister to head any of India's state governments.

At the age of 39, the unmarried Mayawati was also the youngest politician to become the chief minister in Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state.

Although her government did not last more than four months the first time, her political journey had begun.

Symbol of dignity

Mayawati's support base comes mostly from the low-caste Dalits, for whom she became a symbol of their dignity and political aspirations after centuries of oppression by the Hindu upper castes.

"Behenji", or sister, as she is endearingly called by millions of her supporters, returned as chief minister two years later at the head of a BSP coalition government with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), this time for six months.

It was not until the state assembly elections in 2002 February that her political acumen came to be recognised by even her fiercest critics.

She was given complete charge of the party by Kanshi Ram and she formed a government once again in alliance with BJP.

But her fragile coalition government broke up 18 months later amid recriminations over plans to build a massive shopping complex near the Taj Mahal.

Mayawati was accused of approving the project in violation of laws protecting the famous monument.

She denies any wrongdoing.

But her critics say considering her humble origins, she has done pretty well for herself - her assets run into millions of dollars with several properties to her name.

Her mega-birthday bashes are major media events where she appears laden with diamonds.

Broadens appeal

In her years out of power, Mayawati has consolidated her position and worked to broaden her base.

She opted for an image makeover - oily plaits and ponytails made way for short bobbed hair.

She once campaigned on a slogan which told Dalits to beat upper-caste Hindus four times with their shoes.

But a few years ago, she toned down her anti-upper-caste rhetoric.

Her new slogan invited everyone, including the higher castes, to "come ride the elephant", her party's election symbol.

In the latest elections, she fielded more Muslim and upper-caste candidates than ever before to try to win more votes.

Observers say they are still waiting to see a new, more mature and more refined Mayawati.

But this time, they say, a clear majority may help her last a full five-year term.