BSP to give tickets to all sitting MLAs

The 80-odd sitting MLAs of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh can finally heave a sigh of relief.

Party president Mayawati has announced that all sitting party MLAs will be re-nominated for the 2017 Assembly elections. She has asked the legislators to start working in their constituencies and prepare for the Assembly polls. Ms Mayawati made this announcement while addressing a meeting of party legislators in Delhi.

The sitting BSP MLAs, till now were ensure of their future because the party president had not mentioned a word about their being re-nominated as candidates for the 2017 polls.

Moreover, candidates were being officially named by coordinators for various constituencies which added to the confusion. The BSP president told her legislators that the atmosphere in the state was favourable towards the BSP and they should work hard to cash on the prevailing public sentiments.

“People are upset with the SP government and the lawlessness prevailing in the state. They now want the BSP government back in power because they have realised the worth of our governance,” she said.

Ms Mayawati also warned her party MLAs that rival parties like the BJP, SP and the Congress would spread rumours against the BSP and party workers should be prepared to counter such campaigns.

She warned party leaders that the Samajwadi government would transfer officials in large number to suit their political agenda. She asked the party leaders to beware of such tactics and learn to work in adverse circumstances.

The legislators who attended the Delhi meeting said that Ms Mayawati would assess the preparedness of party candidates from time to time.

“The upcoming Assembly elections are extremely crucial for the BSP because Ms Mayawati wants to return with a majority to form the next government. She has said that she will not take any chances and neither will she tolerate any laxity on the part of the candidates,” said a BSP MLA from western UP.