To defeat BJP in UP by-polls, BSP to extend support to SP; but no electoral alliance, clarifies Mayawati

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Sunday denied all the reports of her party allying with rival Samajwadi Party (SP) in upcoming Lok Sabha by-polls in Uttar Pradesh.

Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, Mayawati said, “I want to clarify that BSP has not allied with any political party. All rumours about BSP and SP alliance in Uttar Pradesh are false and baseless.”

Earlier there were reports that BSP will announce an alliance with traditional rival SP to defeat BJP in upcoming by-polls in Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha constituencies vacated after UP CM Yogi Adityanath and Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya assumed offices in the state government.

Though BSP is not officially allying with Samajwadi Party, the party has decided not to float any candidate against for Phulpur and Gorakhpur by-polls.

“We have not floated any candidate for Lok Sabha Phulpur & Gorakhpur by-polls. Our party members will exercise their vote to defeat BJP candidate,” the BSP chief said.

“It won’t be an alliance, if SP and BSP transfer votes in the upcoming Rajya Sabha, Vidhan Parishad elections to defeat BJP,” she added.

Also Read | Setback for Congress, NPP-BJP stake claim to form govt in Meghalaya, oath ceremony on March 6