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Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party will fight Assembly elections in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh on its own, BSP chief Mayawati announced on Wednesday, 3 October, thereby clearing long-held speculations of a possible alliance with the Congress.
Calling Congress “arrogant”, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati launched an attack against Indian National Congress and accused the grand old party of back-stabbing her and her own party. She further accused Congress of attempting to “finish her party.”
In a sharp statement and without mincing words, Mayawati on Wednesday told reporters that Congress is prancing forth in the race to elections under a misconception that they can defeat BJP, but are forgetting their own “corrupt” past.
While the BSP chief maintained that Congress leaders like Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have honest intentions for alliance, she blamed party’s senior leader Digvijaya Singh for sabotaging the efforts for a tie-up.
“Congress leaders like Digvijaya Singh do not wish for a Congress-BSP alliance. They are afraid of agencies like ED, CBI,” Mayawati said.
She further called senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh an agent of the BJP. “Digvijaya Singh, who is also a BJP agent, is giving statements like Mayawati ji has a lot of pressure from Centre so she doesn’t want this alliance. This is baseless,” the BSP chief said.
“I feel that Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi's intentions for Congress-BSP alliance are honest. However, some Congress leaders are sabotaging this,” ANI reported, quoting Mayawati.
Senior Congress Leader Digivijaya Singh reacted to the allegations of sabotaging the grand alliance and said that he has always favoured the alliance.
Responding to Mayawati’s allegations against him on being an agent of BJP, Digvijaya said, “Please ask her, as far as I am concerned, I have been one of the bitterest critics of Modi ji, Amit Shah ji, BJP and RSS.”
“Rahul Gandhi is our Congress chief, we follow his directions, “ Singh told ANI.
Soon after Mayawati called off the alliance, Congress’ spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that the party is still hopeful of things working out between BSP and Congress.
“At times, out of emotions, sweet and bitter things are said. But at last, if Mayawati ji holds absolute trust in Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, then other creases can be ironed out,” Congress’ spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said reacting to Mayawati’s statement on issue of Congress-BSP alliance in upcoming assembly polls.
Terming plans of grand alliance of opposition parties — led by Congress — as bluff, National General Secretary of Bharatiya Janata Party, Ram Madhav said that Congress’ arrogance is a revelation for Mayawati.
Reacting to BSP’s decision to fight elections without Congress’ support and not be a part of grand alliance to defeat BJP, Samajwadi Party’s President Akhilesh Yadav said there should be a Mahagathbandhan, reported News18.
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