Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati made a big announcement on Monday, saying her party will not enter into any alliance and contest the Lok Sabha elections alone. The former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh said this while addressing a press conference in Lucknow. "I want to make it clear that Bahujan Samaj Party will fight Lok Sabha elections alone, won't get into alliance with any party," she reiterated.
Emphasizing the historical support from the backward community, Dalits, tribals, and Muslims that led to the formation of a full majority government in UP in 2007, she made it clear that the party will maintain a distance from those with "casteist and communal ideologies", affirming her stance of not participating in any alliances.
"Our experience with alliances has never been beneficial for us and we suffer more losses from alliances. For this reason, most of the parties in the country want to form an alliance with BSP. An alliance can be considered after the elections. If possible, BSP can extend its support after the elections...our party will fight the elections all alone," Mayawati added.
BSP chief on her retirement
The BSP chief also clarified recent speculations about her potential retirement from politics. She announced Akash Anand as her political successor and emphasised that her declaration does not imply her withdrawal from the political arena. Mayawati asserted her commitment to continuing her efforts in strengthening the party.
"Last month, I declared Akash Anand as my political successor following which it was being speculated in media that I may soon retire from politics. However, I want to clarify that it's not the case, and I will continue to work towards strengthening the party," says BSP…" she added.
Mayawati attacks BJP, Congress
The former UP chief minister also hit out at the Centre and state government- both ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said that the ruling party trying to make people its 'slaves' by providing them with some free ration instead of uplifting them from poverty. "Instead of uplifting people from poverty and providing them employment, the central and state (UP) governments are providing them with some free ration and trying to make them their salves. However, our government in UP had provided people employment to empower them," Mayawati said.
Speaking at the press conference, the BSP chief also urged party leaders and workers to exert their full efforts to secure a "favourable verdict" for the BSP in the upcoming 2024 elections. Despite being a prominent political force in Uttar Pradesh during the 1990s and 2000s, the party has experienced a gradual decline over the past decade. In the 2022 assembly elections, the BSP garnered only 12.8 per cent of the votes, marking its lowest performance in almost three decades.
Lok Sabha elections 2024
It should be noted here that general elections are expected to be held in India between April and May to elect the members of the 18th Lok Sabha. The tenure of the 17th Lok Sabha is scheduled to end in the month of June. The previous general elections were held in April–May 2019. After the elections, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance formed the government at the Centre, with Narendra Modi continuing as Prime Minister for the second straight term.
(With inputs from agencies)
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