Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday claimed that Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) “transferred” votes to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which is why the latter won the majority of seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
Yadav said he has data to prove the allegation.
“BSP used to transfer its votes to BJP. This is why it got zero seats, while BJP won the majority of seats in the 2014 parliamentary polls. I have data of booths that show votes (of BSP) were transferred to BJP. I can prove it,” Akhilesh claimed.
Out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, BJP swept the state by winning 71, leaving Samajwadi Party in distant second with just five seats.
The BSP drew a blank in 2014 after winning 20 seats in 2009 parliamentary elections.
Yadav was asked why BJP won elections held during the tenures of Samajwadi Party-led governments in the state.
On another query related to BSP, he said, “Do not ask me anything about this party. They should give some thought to what they have done for the development of the state.”
Asked about Mayawati’s claim that the Lucknow Metro and the Agra Expressway were initiatives of her government, Yadav said, “Nobody stopped her from rolling out these schemes… She may claim that she had plans to launch the smart phone scheme. She should tell us if she can press a single button or has knowledge of smart phones.”
Talking about the upcoming assembly elections, the Chief Minister said that he is confident that Samajwadi Party will form a majority government in the state.
He, however, added that a pre-poll alliance between his party and Congress would win over 300 seats out of 404.
“Though samajwadis are going to form majority government in the state, but if alliance takes place, it will win over 300 (of the 403) seats. The final decision in this regard will be taken by party National president (Mulayam Singh Yadav),” Akhilesh Yadav said.
He said that a final decision in this regard will only be taken by the party’s national president Mulayam Singh Yadav.
(With PTI inputs)
