New Delhi: Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati said on Wednesday that she would not be contesting the coming Lok Sabha polls.
However, she clarified soon afterwards that this does not mean she cannot enter Parliament through the byelection route later, thus keeping open the question of her being a contender for the prime ministership should a larger Opposition alliance get the requisite numbers.
She said, “In view of the present circumstances and the need of the country and the interests of the party, the movement and the public, it is the need of the hour that I do not contest the Lok Sabha polls.”
However, she clarified shortly afterwards: "When I became UP CM first time in 1995 I was not a member of either the UP Assembly or the Council. Similarly, there is a provision at the Centre where a person has to become a Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha member within six months of holding office as minister or Prime Minister. Don't get disheartened over my decision not to contest the Lok Sabha polls now."
She claimed that all she has to do is to go and file her nomination papers, and her party workers will ensure her victory. The reason given by the BSP chief for not contesting was that if she contests, her party workers will focus only on her seat even if she forbids them, and thus affect the campaign in other constituencies.
