Mayawati dismisses rumours of alliance, says BSP to go solo in Lok Sabha elections 2024

Mayawati. File Pic

BSP supremo Mayawati on Monday dismissed rumours of forming an alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 and asserted that her party will contest the elections on its own, reported news agency PTI.

Mayawati, a former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, has also asked workers of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to be beware of such rumours.

"Despite BSP's repeated clear declaration of not forging an alliance with any party in the upcoming Lok Sabha general elections, spreading rumours about alliance every day proves that without BSP, some parties are not going to fare well here, while BSP is not going to do well. The welfare of our people is paramount," BSP Chief posted on X.

"Therefore, keeping in view the interest and welfare of the Sarv Samaj (Entire Society), especially the poor, exploited and neglected, BSP's decision to contest the Lok Sabha general elections on its strength with the body, mind and money of its people across the country is firm. People must be careful of rumours," she added.

Earlier, Mayawati reiterated her party's stand for the Lok Sabha elections 2024 and said that her party will contest the polls alone, reported ANI.

Addressing a press conference, the BSP chief said that her party may consider about alliance once the elections are over.

"Our experience with alliances has never been beneficial for us and we suffer more losses from alliances. For this reason, most of the parties in the country want to ally with BSP. An alliance can be considered after the elections. If possible, BSP can extend its support after the elections...our party will fight the elections all alone," she said, reported ANI.

On December 21, 2023, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati, lashed out at member parties of the INDIA bloc, especially the Samajwadi Party (SP), who make comments on opposition parties that are not a part of the alliance, reported ANI.

"It is inappropriate for anyone to make unnecessary comments on parties, including the BSP, that are not a part of the opposition alliance. My suggestion to them is that they should refrain from it because you can never say who will need whom in the future in the public interest. It would not be correct for such people and parties to feel ashamed later. SP is a living example of this," said Mayawati, reported ANI.

The BSP, a Scheduled Castes-centric party, was a major political force in Uttar Pradesh in the 1990s and 2000s but witnessed a gradual decline over the past decade.

In the 2022 assembly elections, the party polled only 12.8 per cent votes, its lowest in almost three decades.

The BSP had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in alliance with the Samajwadi Party.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI)