A couple of points:
Infrastructure is so damn important for any development , not to start any debates on national politics , but NDA govt understood it very well and started huge policies / process ( another story that they could not reap its benefits ). In that sense its not so bad what Mayawati is doing ( though i am not sure if she understands it at all).
Correlating with recession is a different story. Govt as a spender of last resort has to back up the downsurge in consumer spending else recession can become self feeding and can be catastrophic. So govt. balance sheet has to expand in times of downturn/recession.
Statues etc are funny but also a very important lessons for all those who are willing to learn. She is doing nothing wrong , she is only paying back to people who have supported her. Look at all this is this way: She projected herself as representing the down trodden Dalits / SCs / STs and those people relate themselves to her. so its not only her statue in the park , rather its a celebration of the "dalits".
And at least those who favour reservation ( Jat ofcourse !) should infact be very happy about it, because if Mayawati enchant-ed "dalits" , you guys are more or less doing the same. And if she can be successful about it , why cannot you guys? Get ready for erecting statues/placards/posters etc all over once you get the reservation! Time's running my friends!
PS: Do not take my post as any sarcasm , it is just my pain of seeing a country being divided for nothing on issues of caste / religion, areas !