UP assembly polls: Ulema council withdraws 84 candidates to support BSP

In a boost to BSP, Rashtriya Ulema Council has pledged its support to the party and decided to withdraw its 84 candidates fielded in the UP elections.

“It is the need of the hour that we (RUC) should work together with BSP to defeat fascist forces and provide relief to the state from Gundaraj and Parivarwad,” council president Maulana Aamir Rashadi said.

All the 84 candidates fielded by the RUC will not contest and support BSP, he said, adding the Council will work towards checking “division of Muslim votes and division of the votes of the oppressed and the deprived sections” of the society.

On SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav, Rashadi said as he failed to win the confidence of his own father he will not be able to win the confidence of the community.

To a question, Rashadi ruled out merger of RUC and said he will only campaign for the BSP.