Blow to the opposition after BSP pulls out from Patna Rally

Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) today clarified that they would not participate in the Mahagathbandan rally 'BJP Bhagao, Desh Bachao' in Patna on August 27, called by Rashtriya Janata Dal president Lalu Prasad. "We are not opposed to the secular unity in the country, but BSP will only share dias with secular party only after seats they would contest in the elections are announced. The way the things are going would not yield any results for the secular opposition. Besides, such secular move would only benefit the BJP at last," said BSP president Mayawati at a press conference here.

Ms Mayawati said BSP will only share the dais with other secular political parties only after they decide on the number of seats each party would contest in the elections. "It has been seen than that the opposition parties hold rallies and share dais before the elections ,but they break up during sharing the seats.

This creates confusion among people and the party's rank and file," she said. She added that during the last Bihar assembly elections, couple of parties parted ways just before the elections over the seat sharing. "I don't want such things to happen for BSP in future and hence decided not to participate in the Patna rally," the BSP president said, adding that much confusion arose over the participation of the BSP in the rally which has to be cleared.

The former Chief Minister said the BSP had always contested the elections without any alliance in the recent past and will continue to do so to serve the oppressed and downtrodden to fulfill the dreams of Dr B R Ambedkar. However, she did not spare the BJP saying that the combine of BJP-RSS was trying its level best to hit the opposition unity and hence these secular parties should be very cautious in their move.

The way BJP is moving ahead, the Election Commission too was very apprehensive about it, she alleged. Earlier, it was reported that though Ms Mayawati would not attend the Patna meet, senior party leader Satish Chandra Mishra could represent her in the meet. But now the BSP's statement clearly said that no one of the BSP leaders would attend the meeting. (UNI)